Wish this video actually showed them playing points.

[Deleted member 735320]

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/video/how-would-todays-players-fare-with-a-wooden-racquet

I have long called for an exhibition with current and retired pros playing with wooden rackets. I would like to have seen these ATP players hit the groundies, serves and volleys. I bet they would almost to a one, stink and stink really bad.

 

[Tshooter]

https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/video/how-would-todays-players-fare-with-a-wooden-racquet

I have long called for an exhibition with current and retired pros playing with wooden rackets. I would like to have seen these ATP players hit the groundies, serves and volleys. I bet they would almost to a one, stink and stink really bad.

I like the idea. I disagree that they would stink. Didn't Pete play an Exo some years back with a wood racket and was hitting some good serves ? Warning, video may induce motion sickness:

 

[Deleted member 735320]

Sampras is old enough that he probably learned with a wooden racket, even if only for a short while. The current pros from Serena to Federer to Nadal I reckon never played with the small headed wooden rackets. Fed and Serena were born in 1981. Even Chris Evert was using graphite by 1984 so they would have learned completely with a composite racket and a bigger sweet spot from the mid to oversize rackets. I am sticking to my guns that the current ATP players would stink with Jack Kramer rackets.

 

[Wander]

I don't think they would stink, probably some would have more trouble adjusting than others though.

 

[NatF]

Sampras is old enough that he probably learned with a wooden racket, even if only for a short while. The current pros from Serena to Federer to Nadal I reckon never played with the small headed wooden rackets. Fed and Serena were born in 1981. Even Chris Evert was using graphite by 1984 so they would have learned completely with a composite racket and a bigger sweet spot from the mid to oversize rackets. I am sticking to my guns that the current ATP players would stink with Jack Kramer rackets.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/t...erer-relishing-first-taste-of-real-thing.html

 

[Tshooter]

Sampras is old enough that he probably learned with a wooden racket, even if only for a short while...

“I [Sampras] played with a wood racket until I was about 14. Honestly that’s what made me a great player. I was starting with a wood racket.“

https://www.rollingstone.com/cultur...sick-of-tennis-really-loves-pearl-jam-126044/

 

[jm1980]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/t...erer-relishing-first-taste-of-real-thing.html

That's real tennis though.

 

[TennisaGoGo]

If you play with a wooden racquet, you’ll surprise yourself on how well you’ll hit. The ball goes where you want it to (but you have to really swing).

 

[jm1980]

Also, in before Fed fans come in and claim Fed would have won 15+ Slams in any era while Nadal and Djokovic would have struggled to make the quarters with wooden racquets

 

[Wander]

Also, in before Fed fans come in and claim Fed would have won 15+ Slams in any era while Nadal and Djokovic would have struggled to make the quarters with wooden racquets

Lmao, quarters?? Nads and Djoker would be club level players!!!

 

[Deon Sanders]

The sweet spot on an old wooden racquet is pretty much the same size as they are today

Just gets really brutal when you miss it

It should not be that hard to rally with one for any halfway decent player. I am sure pros would be more than fine.

 

[Sport]

Also, in before Fed fans come in and claim Fed would have won 15+ Slams in any era while Nadal and Djokovic would have struggled to make the quarters with wooden racquets

Lord Novak defeated King Arthur III with wooden racquets on a wood court.

 

[NatF]

That's real tennis though.

Exactly

 

[Slightly D1]

A wooden racket exhibition round robin would be a lot of fun to watch. It might hurt some of the old timer’s feelings to see the athletes of today doing stuff they never could with them though.

 

[Max G.]

There's a rec player I hit with who's a big racquet buff, he tries a bunch of different racquets... he has a wooden racquet he brings out and hits with sometimes.

He hits fine with it. Not as good as with his normal one obviously, but he can hit serves, forehands, backhands. I've got no doubt that given a day to adjust, pros would play fine with wood racquets. Obviously not competitive with other pros playing with modern frames, but well enough to play each other and beat non-pros.

 

[IowaGuy]

It is what it is. Sport is being modernised all the time, and it is good that's the case. Otherwise we would have events that are deprived of best possible action.

Today's baseball has pretty good action despite not having "modern" equipment...

 

[vandre]

Today's baseball has pretty good action despite not having "modern" equipment...

you forgot this...

 

[kishnabe]

Sampras is old enough that he probably learned with a wooden racket, even if only for a short while. The current pros from Serena to Federer to Nadal I reckon never played with the small headed wooden rackets. Fed and Serena were born in 1981. Even Chris Evert was using graphite by 1984 so they would have learned completely with a composite racket and a bigger sweet spot from the mid to oversize rackets. I am sticking to my guns that the current ATP players would stink with Jack Kramer rackets.

Federer used a Wooden Racket as a kid.

 

[mental midget]

if you haven't tried one, you should. not that different. pros would be fine. only thing you can't really do well is generate huge pace from behind the baseline, and big swings on returns is tougher too. overall though it's still tennis.

 

[Deleted member 735320]

if you haven't tried one, you should. not that different. pros would be fine. only thing you can't really do well is generate huge pace from behind the baseline, and big swings on returns is tougher too. overall though it's still tennis.

But thats what tennis has become almost all pace and little if any finesse. If you can't hit a winner within 5 strokes and you miss then you would not be a top pro. The current 100 would be completely different if they had to play the 1968 tournament schedule on mostly grass and with wooden rackets.

 

[Bukowski]

Roger could play with a spoon.

 

[BringBackWood]

A wooden racket exhibition round robin would be a lot of fun to watch. It might hurt some of the old timer’s feelings to see the athletes of today doing stuff they never could with them though.

Then one wonders why they don't. Why do you think improved 'athletes' would have better hand skills and court craft

if you haven't tried one, you should. not that different. pros would be fine. only thing you can't really do well is generate huge pace from behind the baseline, and big swings on returns is tougher too. overall though it's still tennis.

So in other words it's completely different.

 

[Deleted member 735320]

A wooden racket exhibition round robin would be a lot of fun to watch. It might hurt some of the old timer’s feelings to see the athletes of today doing stuff they never could with them though.

I guarantee that McEnroe and Navratilova could beat several top 50 players in such an exhibition. They might even beat top 20 players. If it was 10 years ago they could both beat top ten players.

 

[Bukowski]

I guarantee that McEnroe and Navratilova could beat several top 50 players in such an exhibition. They might even beat top 20 players. If it was 10 years ago they could both beat top ten players.

You really think a top 20 player would lose a match to somebody in their mid 50s? Even the older retired guys havnt played with wood in decades. That’s not how it works.

 

[Slightly D1]

Then one wonders why they don't. Why do you think improved 'athletes' would have better hand skills and court craft



So in other words it's completely different.

You ever even played with a wooden racket? Or have you ever considered how elite professional tennis players are with any racket in their hand?

 

[Deleted member 735320]

You really think a top 20 player would lose a match to somebody in their mid 50s? Even the older retired guys havnt played with wood in decades. That’s not how it works.

I am probably overstating it but think how clueless and impatient our children are with making phone calls. A rotary phone, now with a 10 digit number not 7 and if you screw up just once you need to hang up and start again.

It would be something similar in wooden tennis. You don't get cheap free points, John Isner. You actually have to keep the ball in play with a small racket face and small sweet spot. If you miss the sweet spot the ball is going astray.

 

[Deleted member 735320]

You really think a top 20 player would lose a match to somebody in their mid 50s? Even the older retired guys havnt played with wood in decades. That’s not how it works.

I am probably overstating it but think how clueless and impatient our children are with making phone calls. A rotary phone, now with a 10 digit number not 7, and if you screw up just once you need to hang up and start again. Todays pros have no where hear the patience required to play wooden racket tennis.

You don't get cheap free points, John Isner. You actually have to keep the ball in play with a small racket face and small sweet spot. If you miss the sweet spot the ball is going astray.

Bud Collins said years ago that Ken Rosewall could "earn a living" playing the then current men's tour. This was well past 1974 so he was in his 50s or so and if they all had to use wooden rackets then Muscles would have made a better living. Earn a living means make money not win all the time.