Why so few extended rackets?

[robsanz]

Buying tennis rackets is sure frustrating. I have a two handed backhand and have found much to my surprise that most of the grips on new rackets are only big enough for one-handers. Very strange considering how many players hit with two hands.

It seems like the only way to get a longer handle is to get a longer racket. That sounds simple but the selection of rackets longer than 27” is lousy.

Take for example Wilson. The K-factor rackets are wonderful but you can’t buy an extended one if you want (18x20) strings – they sell Wilson K Factor KSix-One 95 (18x20) Racquets but there isn’t an extended version.

Prince used to have the excellent 28” Chang but now the longest racket they have is 27.5 with limited selections.

Why aren’t companies making many extended rackets, and why do so many 27” rackets have such dinky grips?

The guy at the tennis shop told me that almost all the pros use extended versions of the rackets, but the racket companies don't sell them to the public. Why not?

 

[travlerajm]

Buying tennis rackets is sure frustrating. I have a two handed backhand and have found much to my surprise that most of the grips on new rackets are only big enough for one-handers. Very strange considering how many players hit with two hands.

It seems like the only way to get a longer handle is to get a longer racket. That sounds simple but the selection of rackets longer than 27” is lousy.

Take for example Wilson. The K-factor rackets are wonderful but you can’t buy an extended one if you want (18x20) strings – they sell Wilson K Factor KSix-One 95 (18x20) Racquets but there isn’t an extended version.

Prince used to have the excellent 28” Chang but now the longest racket they have is 27.5 with limited selections.

Why aren’t companies making many extended rackets, and why do so many 27” rackets have such dinky grips?

The guy at the tennis shop told me that almost all the pros use extended versions of the rackets, but the racket companies don't sell them to the public. Why not?

Racquet companies have come to the conclusion that the consumers will only buy racquets with swingweights in the 330 range.

If you make an extended length racquet with a 330 SW, it means that you need to have a really lightweight hoop. But the problem with a light hoop is that it is unstable. And unstable feeling racquets don't sell well.

The pros who use extended length racquets generally play with swingweights in the 365 to 375 range. In this swingweight range, an extended length frame will still have enough mass to be stable.

But racquets with 370 swingweight feel heavy and cumbersome to a customer who swings a frame in a pro shop. So even if the frame hits the ball with better control, it is less likely to sell.

 

[tennisdarren]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCPRINCE-PGLB.html

Here's my current favorite extended length stick.
My main racquet is the O3 Tour MP and I don't have any problems with my 2 hbh even with though I can palm a basketball.

 

[robsanz]

Prince longbody

"http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/desc...INCE-PGLB.html

Here's my current favorite extended length stick.
My main racquet is the O3 Tour MP and I don't have any problems with my 2 hbh even with though I can palm a basketball.

Interesting. The dealers around here told me that Prince didn't make the longbody anymore. I guess they just didn't want to sell them. Does this racket hit similar to the Michael Chang longbody?

 

[alkibiades]

If there is enough room above the standard grip, you can have the grip lengthened without extending the racquet. Do a web search for R P N Y tennis and give them a call -- the proprietor, Roman, is a magician, and once you find out the people for whom he does custom grip work, you'll be confident your in good hands.

 

[jonline]

It's alright for your hand to go a little over at the top of the grip. This is how it generally is for racquets with standard length grips. I guess it all comes down to preference, but I definitely wouldn't rule standard racquets out unless the grip is a huge comfort issue. My two cents.

 

[Fedace]

i agree i think we should make all rackets 29 inches long and if you don't like it you can just cut it off

 

[AceofBase]

You should try the Prince Triple Threat Graphite OS its 27.5 played very good and is the only racket that is similar to that of the Michael Chang.

 

[SFrazeur]

For the sake of knowing, or interest, the longest racquet TW currently has in stock is the Prince Graphite Lonbody at 28 inches:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCPRINCE-PGLB.html

-SF

 

[Bottle Rocket]

Babolat doesn't seem to hold back too much on the extended length rackets. Almost all of their popular rackets are available in a plus version.

Pure Control Plus is the most similar thing I can think of to a kSix-One 95 extended length racket... I am having a good time with mine!

 

[Michelangelo]

i agree i think we should make all rackets 29 inches long and if you don't like it you can just cut it off

Nope. We should persuade all tennis racquet companies into making handles detached until individual places his/her order how long/big/shape/material/heavy he/she wants the handle to be. (Somewhat like golf clubs?)

 

[kabob]

Take for example Wilson. The K-factor rackets are wonderful but you can’t buy an extended one if you want (18x20) strings – they sell Wilson K Factor KSix-One 95 (18x20) Racquets but there isn’t an extended version.

Not the 18x20 string pattern, but Wilson does make a 27.5" version of the K-Factor Tour 95:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCWILSON-K61X.html

The guy at the tennis shop told me that almost all the pros use extended versions of the rackets, but the racket companies don't sell them to the public. Why not?

I don't know where that "guy" got his info, but most pros use standard length racquets.

 

[Punisha]

i want an extended stick just for more power/reach/spin

 

[ChocolatePie]

I use the extended version of the pure drive and I love it =)

 

[soarer1023]

i found that you can hold a double backhand very comfortably with the n90, but no the k90 tho.

 

[Fedace]

I command you to make extended versions of Dunlop aerogel 300, Yonex RDS 001,

 

[kanjii]

I too am using a PDR+...it's funny, I thought most racquets were standard size and as I was showing this girl in class trhe PDR+ and mentioned to compare it with her yellow Wilson, they were both the same length!!! D'oh!!! She played with the Babolat and likes it very much. Maybe, thre are a bunch out there, but not a name brand model. We are talking racquet length and not grip length, yes??

 

[Aeropro master]

I have a 2HB, but my hands are small, so I can use a normal racket

 

[sureshs]

Racquet companies have come to the conclusion that the consumers will only buy racquets with swingweights in the 330 range.

If you make an extended length racquet with a 330 SW, it means that you need to have a really lightweight hoop. But the problem with a light hoop is that it is unstable. And unstable feeling racquets don't sell well.

The pros who use extended length racquets generally play with swingweights in the 365 to 375 range. In this swingweight range, an extended length frame will still have enough mass to be stable.

But racquets with 370 swingweight feel heavy and cumbersome to a customer who swings a frame in a pro shop. So even if the frame hits the ball with better control, it is less likely to sell.

That is exactly why I went with Vantage. I got a 12 oz strung, 7 pts HL unstrung, 27.5 racquet, 100 si head, which Paul said is about 335 SW strung. It definitely swings much easier than the K95X unstrung I have picked up at the pro shop. I don't know how Paul does it - make a solid extended length stick with a reasonable SW. The hoop is not light at all - or if it is, the unstrung/ungripped RA of 70 compensates for it. It is the first racquet in a while in which I did not have to add lead to the hoop. The hoop plays really really solid as it is. The secret may be foam inside the frame, as someone posted here once.

 

[therealj]

I just ordered a Volkl BB10 , it's 27.6"....can't wait

 

[robsanz]

Vantage?

That is exactly why I went with Vantage.

So what is Vantage? If that's a brand name I don't think I have seen them.

 

[robsanz]

very annoying

It's alright for your hand to go a little over at the top of the grip. This is how it generally is for racquets with standard length grips. I guess it all comes down to preference, but I definitely wouldn't rule standard racquets out unless the grip is a huge comfort issue. My two cents.

It seems like racket companies are not using their brains. Considering that so many people hit with two hands, why are they making rackets with standard sized grips?

I tried the new Head microgel with the 18x20 string pattern. I definitely liked it, but after spending that much money on a racket why do I have to hassle with wrapping the grip higher? That's really annoying, and after all these years I don't understand how racket companies could be so oblivious to the needs of their customers.

 

[SFrazeur]

So what is Vantage? If that's a brand name I don't think I have seen them.

They custom build pre-build racquets for you, go to vantagetennis.com.

-SF

 

[robsanz]

They custom build pre-build racquets for you, go to vantagetennis.com.

-SF

I just checked out their website. It's very interesting to custom order, but of course the downside is that there is no way to tell how the rackets are until we hit with them. It's kind of a risky purchase.

Personally I have never seen a Vantage.

 

[Leoboomanu]

Trav, Trav, Trav... And Tursa...

Isn't the k95X the Safin setup in disguise... Using full poly will push the SW to 365, balance 7hl and 12.5oz...
We might be on to something...
Wilson's has Safin at stock...

 

[robsanz]

Racquet companies have come to the conclusion that the consumers will only buy racquets with swingweights in the 330 range.

I think a more plausible explanation is that manufacturers and stores just don't want to hassle with having more racket models. It's an inventory issue.

 

[goosala]

Extended frames were a fad because some short tennis player (Michael Chang) thought he could benefit from a longer frame. He choked up on the grip anyway so it was like playing with a normal 27 inch frame; at least for him. The fact that he choked up on the frame negated any benefit of the longer frame. Go figure.

 

[robsanz]

Isn't the k95X the Safin setup in disguise... Using full poly will push the SW to 365, balance 7hl and 12.5oz...
We might be on to something...
Wilson's has Safin at stock...

How long is this raquet you are talking about?