Wilson n3 with lead tape

[danniflava]

I currently use the Wilson H6 Midplus. I demoed the Wilson n3 just for fun to see why Serena Williams uses it, or something like it. I found an amazing response to the racquet, usually. It made me more interested in it.

The problem, though, is that doubt has struck in my mind. Prior to demoing the n3, I was geared towards buying a more even-balanced, heavier racquet. I was wondering something:

What would the n3 be like if I had put enough lead tape on it to measure around 10.5 ounces? Would the n3 still be powerful, or even more-so? Would it play more like a players' racquet even though it is 113 sq. inches?

 

[danniflava]

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[Andy Zarzuela]

You can make it heavier, but that's only going to make it more powerful. Because the force=mass x acceleration the more mass you have, the more power the racquet will have. Also speaking that it takes more energy to swing a heavier racquet....

BTW, Serena Williams DOES NOT USE the n3. She has a very custom frame. Her frame (mold) is closer to the mold of the n5, and has an 18x 20 string pattern, which has POWERHOLES on the sides and top of the frame. Her racquet is heavy. It weights in the 12 oz range. Serena and Venus use frames that look like what's in stores, but are totally different. They are customized to their needs. You cannot get a frame like theirs in stores. The only way you can acquire a frame like theirs, is if you ask them to give one to you at a WTA match....if they want to give it to you...Like most all pros, they play with stuff their sponsor (Wilson) customizes solely for them!

 

[danniflava]

You can make it heavier, but that's only going to make it more powerful. Because the force=mass x acceleration the more mass you have, the more power the racquet will have. Also speaking that it takes more energy to swing a heavier racquet....

BTW, Serena Williams DOES NOT USE the n3. She has a very custom frame. Her frame (mold) is closer to the mold of the n5, and has an 18x 20 string pattern, which has POWERHOLES on the sides and top of the frame. Her racquet is heavy. It weights in the 12 oz range. Serena and Venus use frames that look like what's in stores, but are totally different. They are customized to their needs. You cannot get a frame like theirs in stores. The only way you can acquire a frame like theirs, is if you ask them to give one to you at a WTA match....if they want to give it to you...Like most all pros, they play with stuff their sponsor (Wilson) customizes solely for them!

I knew that they used very custom frames. I didn't think that they would be using game improvement racquets, obviously.

So will adding a lot of lead tape to get rid of the extreme head-heaviness make the racquet suited to more of my level? Because I felt comfortable with it in stock form, although I had a little trouble keeping it in (maybe cuz I have to get used to the racquet first.)

And about the Serena racquet thing. I have full tapes of her Australian Open Semifinal and Final matches, plus her US Open 4th Round with Venus, and I should agree with you that she is not using an n3 mold. The frame of the racquet (I especially noticed in the upper hoop area) is so much thinner than that of the n3.

BUT...

I don't think she is using a custom n5, either.

I think that the Wilson people told Serena that she could make whatever racquet she wants with the certain style and design as the n3 and n5. She picked her specs, and then she was asked to pick her favourite looking colours for the racquet. She choose the silver, so she got the "n3".

 

[tarkowski]

So will adding a lot of lead tape to get rid of the extreme head-heaviness make the racquet suited to more of my level? Because I felt comfortable with it in stock form, although I had a little trouble keeping it in (maybe cuz I have to get used to the racquet first.)

Yes - adding lead at the handle will make the racquet less head-heavy, but it will still increase overall mass. This also means, as Andy as indicated, that the racquet will be even more powerful. If you're finding the racquet too powerful in stock form, evening-up the balance here will only compound the problem.

One of the racquets in Wilson's line-up that may improve with weight in the handle is the n5 98. I found the n5 98 to be a very controllable and decent-hitting racquet (I play with the nSixOne 95 18x20). Adding weight to the handle of this stick would even out the balance and give it more stability at net.

Good luck!

 

[newracketagain??]

if you add weight wich adds more mass, you could always coutner that by stringing at a really high tension with a really low powered strign! N3 stiffness is just 59, so it could easily take a low powered poly!

 

[danniflava]

if you add weight wich adds more mass, you could always coutner that by stringing at a really high tension with a really low powered strign! N3 stiffness is just 59, so it could easily take a low powered poly!

Would a low-powered, high-tension string lower the overall power of the racquet significantly?

 

[bc-05]

Would a low-powered, high-tension string lower the overall power of the racquet significantly?

yeh but im warning u.. it'll give u less power but u'll feel like hitting with a board.. the feel would be dead.. i suggest getting a n5.. counter weight it.. the feeling of both racquet is similar.. i think i know why u feel it's comfortable, i think it's due to the triad technology.. the n5 has the same tech too.. try it..

 

[danniflava]

yeh but im warning u.. it'll give u less power but u'll feel like hitting with a board.. the feel would be dead.. i suggest getting a n5.. counter weight it.. the feeling of both racquet is similar.. i think i know why u feel it's comfortable, i think it's due to the triad technology.. the n5 has the same tech too.. try it..

My brother has the n5, so I'm not too keen on getting it. What about the n4? It's about a mix of the n3 and the n5....

 

[tarkowski]

My brother has the n5, so I'm not too keen on getting it. What about the n4? It's about a mix of the n3 and the n5....

Hi Danni,

Although I play with a Wilson nSixOne 95 18x20, I end up demoing a lot of racquets - lately to help my wife pick out a racquet, and sometimes just to see if all this technology is as useful as it's marketing department would have you believe. As a result, I've demoed the N3, N4 OS, N5 98, N5 110, Prince Shark MP, Prince Shark OS, O3 White, and quite a few others.

Of the Wilson N# line, the N5 hits the sweet spot. Even then, I'm tempted to point you in another direction as I think there are much better options. But if you are interested in Wilson N# line, I think the N5 (in both sizes) is the best choice. The N4 doesn't have triad technology and swings heavier than the others. I found it to be very stiff, very light, and very uncomfortable. It plays nothing like an N3 or an N5. And it's a rocket launcher! Strings could have it playing more powerful than the N3. Power ratings are just a guide and work out differently in real-world play.

The N5 feels like a less-powerful N3, especially the 98. But the 98 can be jarring if you don't hit the sweet-spot (due to smaller head-size), so the 110 can be more comfortable for quite a few people. The Problem with the 110 is, and my wife agrees, is that between the thick beam, head-heavy balance, and triad technology, this is one HUGE and cumbersome racquet! Like you're swinging a club.

If you play tennis regularly (at least once if not twice a week), are looking to improve, and are somewhat athletic, the N# series is not going to be satisfying in the long run. I suggest looking at some Prince racquets, as I have found that the 10.5-11.5 ounce racquets in their range are more plentiful and more appealing than what is offered from Wilson - and this coming from a Wilson advocate!

My wife has had great success with the new O3 White. It's like the Shark, easier to swing, similar power, and more comfortable. The Shark has a crisper response from the stringbed that I prefer and that you may find more appealing as well. I haven't tried the Shark Hybrid. But I think all three would be worth a demo and would give you what you are asking from the N3: same comfort, more control, better stability.

Good luck!

 

[danniflava]

Hi Danni,

Although I play with a Wilson nSixOne 95 18x20, I end up demoing a lot of racquets - lately to help my wife pick out a racquet, and sometimes just to see if all this technology is as useful as it's marketing department would have you believe. As a result, I've demoed the N3, N4 OS, N5 98, N5 110, Prince Shark MP, Prince Shark OS, O3 White, and quite a few others.

Of the Wilson N# line, the N5 hits the sweet spot. Even then, I'm tempted to point you in another direction as I think there are much better options. But if you are interested in Wilson N# line, I think the N5 (in both sizes) is the best choice. The N4 doesn't have triad technology and swings heavier than the others. I found it to be very stiff, very light, and very uncomfortable. It plays nothing like an N3 or an N5. And it's a rocket launcher! Strings could have it playing more powerful than the N3. Power ratings are just a guide and work out differently in real-world play.

The N5 feels like a less-powerful N3, especially the 98. But the 98 can be jarring if you don't hit the sweet-spot (due to smaller head-size), so the 110 can be more comfortable for quite a few people. The Problem with the 110 is, and my wife agrees, is that between the thick beam, head-heavy balance, and triad technology, this is one HUGE and cumbersome racquet! Like you're swinging a club.

If you play tennis regularly (at least once if not twice a week), are looking to improve, and are somewhat athletic, the N# series is not going to be satisfying in the long run. I suggest looking at some Prince racquets, as I have found that the 10.5-11.5 ounce racquets in their range are more plentiful and more appealing than what is offered from Wilson - and this coming from a Wilson advocate!

My wife has had great success with the new O3 White. It's like the Shark, easier to swing, similar power, and more comfortable. The Shark has a crisper response from the stringbed that I prefer and that you may find more appealing as well. I haven't tried the Shark Hybrid. But I think all three would be worth a demo and would give you what you are asking from the N3: same comfort, more control, better stability.

Good luck!

Thanks for this response. Finally, I have someone who understands what I'm looking for.

Actually, a few weeks ago, I bought the nTour, as my brother had the n5 Midplus and encouraged me to buy an nCode. I hope, as I get used to it, the nTour will be an unregretable choice.

The reason why I'm looking at the n3 is because Serena Williams is my favourite player. With my own money, I would never think about buying it (as it doesn't suit my game in any way), but my mother is selling our house and she said that I could get a new racquet. I thought that if I changed it a little bit, it may suit my game a bit for doubles, or just to practice with or something.

Also, I demoed the n3 in the summer, and even though it didn't suit my game, I have never had more fun playing tennis. I was playing okay (definitely not great, but not my absolute worst), and I want to have that fun feeling again!

 

[danniflava]

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[tarkowski]

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Hi Danni,

Not quite sure what you were looking for from your last post - I'm guessing a little bit more on whether or not the n3 is still a good idea?

I think your nTour is a great racquet. Actually, this is the racquet my wife has been playing with (the 95" version) for the past 6 months although recently she has switched to the Prince O3 White. She plays great with the nTour but found it a little too demanding - which is what I'm guessing you're finding. The nTour has a healthy swingweight and is great from the baseline. But it does not have near the power of an n3 and will not provide much assistance in shots not hit well within the sweet spot. And it can be demanding at net, being a little heavier and smaller than other racquets in it's class.

Still, it does provide some power and I think it's a great choice for both men and women who want a racquet they can grow with.

Here's a couple more items to keep in mind regarding the pro circuit and racquets (both of which you may already know from reading the threads):

1 - You will find that the Williams' sisters are more the exception than the rule regarding racquet choice. Most ladies use something between 93 and 100, with 98 probably being the most common.

2 - Racquets are customized for the pros - and in many different ways. They most likely will be heavier, balanced differently, and in some cases, different altogether. The n3 that Serena uses is most likely not the racquet that you can buy from TW.

I think it makes sense to settle on a racquet that is most usable and useful to you, and not get caught up in what your favorite player uses. Maybe Serena has some great duds that you can replicate that won't be detrimental to your game.

I saw your question about 'what suits your game' and read some of the replies. I'd like to add the following:

'Baseliner' players are those that don't much come to net, if at all, and play mostly groundstrokes. Most women rec players, and in fact, most women on the pro circuit fall into this category. Baseliners like even-balanced to head-heavy balanced sticks. Your nTour is fairly even-balanced, possibly slightly head-heavy. These sticks feel nice and solid for baseline play.

'All-court' players are those that mix up their game. They serve and volley, exchange groundstrokes, and play a more comprehensive game. Depending on where they spend most of their time, they will generally prefer sticks that are even-balanced to headlight. ( Prince Shark, O3 White )

These are general guidelines and in the end, it all comes down to personal preference. You can certainly play with a head-light racquet and be a baseliner.

If you want something more fun and forgiving than your nTour and are still looking to improve your game and your technique, I'd give my earlier reccommendations a shot.