Are You Playing With the Wrong Tennis Racquet? | My Recommendations for the Rec Level
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- Опубликовано: 3 июн 2024
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Are you playing with the wrong tennis racquet? In today’s video, I recommend which racquets you should be using at the recreational level.
0:00 Graphite Racquets
3:30 Two Types of Players
9:44 Recommendations
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My String Recommendations 👉 ruclips.net/video/3CyNgcHE_uo/видео.html
When I use a light racquet and the ball hits the frame ,my elbow gets a jerk and the ball travels outside the court even normally. I play with a Wilson Pro staff 6.6 Jim Courier. Its weight is about 350grams .When I play with a 300-320 gram racquet it just doesn't fit right .I am a intermediate player though. What should these kind of players do even if they are not strong enough.
Could you please give recommendation of different brand of racquets on each type of players.
Coles Stark OMG I have a similar problem!
I'm a very lean 178cm 60kg player that used to play with 315gr racket. When I shank a lot of ball in a day, I would feel pain on my elbow. One day my friend lent me the 340gr RF97, then all of a sudden I started beating players that I usually can't beat. What's more important is the elbow pain was also gone!!
Now I already played with the RF97 for around 3 years and relatively pain free. Should I really go back to a lighter racket since I'm only an intermediate 4.5 player?
@@Tennerd Light frames work for some players but probably not for you.
Where do you get your T shirt printed?
I live in Italy and I believe I have a ranking of 4.5 / 5.0 as equivalence and I see from my personal experience that even the differences in stringing are often magnified.
Many times I play well even with the most used strings and often in fact it depends exclusively on the confidence in the shots and in your own game!
So yes, I think the issue is almost exclusively mental 🧠
Wow, honest advice!😮 How many youtubers wud hav used this topic for a sponsership ad money making opportunity?? Now we know you definitely have our interest at heart.Thank youuuuuu🤘🎾👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🙌
💯
Thanks for sharing your tennis knowledge with all of us.
Your lessons are top quality, the explainations, much more detailed and easy to understand than most tennis lessons that my parents have paid for when I was in my teens.
I have been following your channel for a while now and I feel like I have been blessed with many hundreds of dollars worth of tennis lessons!
Keep up the good work !
I agree with Nick completely. The only minor detail that would make a difference to me would be the grip shape. Head has a more of a rectangle grip than other brands. String tension would make more of a difference to me.
Great recommendations. Also frame thickness is key for me when choosing a racket not just weight. If you hit kick serves, for me a thick frame is a no go. Also most serve & volleyers tend to go for a slightly smaller head size. And if you have a 2-handed bh, a racket with a longer grip handle is a better fit.
I love your direct explanation. No sugar coating. Excellent. It's that German upbringing. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I had been suffering from pretty bad tennis elbow for about a year, which forced me to examine different parts of my game, from technique to strings to raquet. I think strings and technique are the most important factors, but what i found also helped was ADDING weight via lead tape, to both the handle and head.
I agree this is not a great idea for a beginner or someone who doesn't have too much arm strength, as it definitely can produce injuries, but for me the added weight is not a problem, and the added stability and reduced vibration when hitting that the added weight brings (along with technique and string improvements) really helped reduce pain and get me to where I am now - no more tennis elbow!
I say this only to give my personal experience. It's worth trying different options and seeing what works for you.
I have been playing with the Wilson profile 2.7 90. I also play with the Prince Graphic, and the Wilson Pro Staff. I am looking for a modern racquets. I use a eastern/ semi western grip, and I have a lot of control over the ball. I love your story my friend. Great video! Thank you
Excellent racket advice, Nick. Especially where you say that you will immediately know whether your demo will work for you. For me, there is no point in switching rackets unless the new racket provides some real advantage over the racket I have been using, and I should be able to tell that immediately.
Racket stiffness is definitely a big factor for injury rather than static weight, some rackets at 300g are super stiff to be able to give more power add in stiff polyester strings is a recipe for tennis elbow. Higher static weight but low stiffness e.g RA rating is a good way of getting best of both worlds, the higher static weight can absorb big serves, volleys against big players, low stiffness doesn't lead to injury
Bravo
He’s also a proponent of stiff poly strings and stiff rackets. Go figure. Everything you said checks out with my experience. The only problem is that he is in another realm. His game is. I play with 345 grams. If he plays with 300g, I should probably be playing with 280g or less.
very interesting lecture, Nik, thanks a lot
Niko, I completely agree with everything you said in this video! Well done.
Best video on racquet guide ever. No bs. Just tell it like it is. 🙏
Thanks for your honesty , in world of social media ppl endorsing and pushing products you are a breathe of fresh air
Amazing advice, Nick. I’ve just checked my racquet an old Wilson Tour. Sold to me by my first coach 8 years ago and it’s the right weight and grip size according to your recommendations. I’ve abandoned thinking about getting a new racquet to improve my game. My bad shots are not the fault of the racquet they are down to ME! As the old saying goes ‘A bad workman always blames his tools.’
I'll definitely say what I've found(I've recently upgraded rackets after rocking a Wilson 6.1 Stretch since 1996) is that there has been more change in the past 20 years in String technology than in Racket technology... newer frames can be lighter.... alittle more arm friendly.. more aerodynamic(sometimes) maybe some tech that gives slightly better spin.. but the difference is minor.. however like I said.. Strings now compared to strings 20 years ago...... whole new ballgame...
I still use a 2007 Roddick Pure Drive. Sometimes I'm tempted to upgrade because it is not too stiff anymore, but I hit well enough with it.
My problems are still largely shot selection and discipline 😕 Choices, positioning, and poor execution are the major flaws in my game, not my old racquet.
@@telquel7843 oh I still bring out my 6.1 from the 90s. They made that thing solid. I have to use heavier rackets to get that kind of feel and plow through and overall feel. The people I hit with complain every time they try out my racket cause they are always like "how is your arm not falling off". Guess I'm just built different. Lol
@@Eliath1984 Yeah, I think to a degree we tend to like what our games developed on.
@@telquel7843 I have the Team Pure Drive Version of Roddick's Racquet, and I use that. 300 Grams.
I really needed to hear everything you said. Thanks a lot!
Thanks for the advice and the video.
I just recently switched from my arsenal of Wilson Profile 2.7si from 1989 to the HEAD Speed MP500. I was able to demo a handful of racquets and finally settled on this particular model. I actually played best with the Boom MP but I couldn't get past the Tiffany blue color...lol. Next thing is to find my optimal string tension. Currently the Speed is strung at 52lbs, which is a bit too tight me.
I still have a whole tub full of Wilson Ultra, Ultra 2, Head Director and some Max 200Gs and old Prince racquets in the garage.
What an honest video. Telling anecdotes. Well done
My rackets all weigh 340 grams, strung. 30 years ago, in my forties, I played about 365 grams.
I'm no Djokovic.
I could hit with lighter frames, but, in my experience, heavier frames reduce injury. I'm 73 and experience no shoulder, elbow or wrist pain playing tennis.
I think too heavy and too light are both bad in different ways. For me 340-350g all strung up is ideal.
I'm 49 and play with a POG oversize that weighs 348 grams but it's fairly headlight. I can whip it around easily but it still has good plow through. I seem to prefer headlight racquets with a swingweight around 330.
My friend who is 56 plays with the Prince Graphite 100 at 15 oz strung at 70. Lead tape in the handle and around the head. 4.5 player. That thing is a brick.
I agree with this. I think up to a certain level, you should be using rackets that are as heavy as you can handle. Also it might change the way you hit and improve your technique since its much more stable than a light racket that requires speed to work. We generally have the option to go either a soft heavy ish racket or a stiff but lighter racket.
I totally agree with your assessment. I've found that lighter frames are "bullied" by the ball that, unfortunately, still weighs the same. And lighter racquets transmit more shock to the arm. The heavier the racquet, the more it participates in the stroke. The more plow through.
It has been said, and I totally agree, that the ideal racquet is the heaviest you can wield and play, without suffering fatigue. Fatigue is different from injury.
Yup i remember falling in love with the Pure Drive pretty quick - its light weight made my swing faster, it was easy on the arm, the sweetspot was bigger and it really enhanced my slice and volley game. Downside was it brought too much topspin into my game, but that was also my fault because i experimented with thinner poly strings. Went back to synthetics eventually also because of my arm.
This guy is great so helpful and knowledgeable and totally straightforward, thanks, I always learn something new when I watch his videos 😊
Interesting what you said about older frames degrading and possibly creating arm problems. I hadn't played in 20 years and last year started lightly hitting with my 1989 Prince CTS Blast Midplus. This spring I started hitting more seriously and I had so many control problems, and after hitting three times in one week I developed golfer's elbow from my service motion. I thought it was from my years of not hitting and never considered it could be at least in part due to an old racket.
Brilliant video Nick! As a researcher in the field of management / psychology, I know there is a term for "oh i missed the backhand, that has to be the racket / string / grip", called Attribution Error: people always attribute mistakes to others (e.g. equipment, court, weather), instead of looking to their circumstances (fundamentals and techniques). Indeed it is mental / psychology! You have explained it very intuitively!
Thank you George
Thankfully we have the corroboration of an expert now.
Yeah I agree, let’s say you forget your racquet and borrowed some random racquet that you’ve never used, you miss a couple of shots and all of the sudden you just blame it on the racquet and use that as an excuse and lose
You know what they say: excuse & lose. Think I read that in a business self-help book some time.
hmmm. I've never blamed my racquet for a missed shot. i suppose that if your string breaks, you can pin that on the equipment. but otherwise, it seems illogical.
Hi Nikola, Thank you very much for a very comprehensive racket guide. Especially I like your suggestions about the weight of the rackets.
10:15 in the video
Brilliant video’s.keep up the great work.
Hi. Having played tennis for over 40 years, and having coached tennis - thanks for your experience and common sense. One of the few truly worthwhile online resources for the truth about racquets etc. Again, thanks for your content
Thank you
THANK YOU, FOR THESE INSIGHTFUL DETAILS, AND COMMENTARY ON THE VARIOUS EQUIPMENT CHOICES! SINCE I'M BARELY ABLE TO "PLAY", AND I SHUN "COMPETITION", I MERELY "PLAY" FOR "FUN", AND I DON'T CARE TOO MUCH, FOR THE DETAILS, AND "PICKY" MINDSET. I ONLY DO THIS "SPORT" FOR "FUN".... I DON'T EVEN KEEP "SCORE"....
A friend used to have a Hyper Hammer from his Dad, and I also loved it! It was so easy to hit great Baseline Shots.
Wish I had bought one.
I'm with you. I broke the racquet I've played with a couple years ago , tried several other racquets, but keep coming back to my 5.3 hyper hammer midplus..
You are one of the best Nick. Thanks for all the tips
I just switched from the 285g Babolat Pure Aero Team to the heavier Rafa Pure Aero version (300g) and i LOVE IT!!!! 3.5 player here 👍
Hi Nik!
Just wanted to say that I've never played tennis before and I've been learning a lot from your videos!
Keep up the great work you've been doing on your channel!
Glad you picked up the game. Keep going and thanks for the support 🙌
Awesome, I got many tips to select an appropriate rocket and grip too.
Thank you Nik
You're getting a rocket? That's so cool!
So the lesson is, Rec racquets dont break strings as easy ;)
Joking of course, great video. I think you touch on an important aspect in the blame game. I personally dont like to switch racquets, i always buy 2 of the same. I want to get used to the one type and then know all blame rests with me.
As a very late starter, late 40s now early 50s i started out with racquets in your suggested range but against some bigger hitters they vibrated like crazy and felt i lost control. I switched to a Blade98 which is meant to be 320g strung and love it. Ive never felt the weight is too much.
Nick, all I can say is you have single-handedly improved my game with your amazing lessons. I took a few years off and recently took tennis again. Your feedback is spot on and well-articulated. I have struggled to find a coach that I can really understand and connect with but your videos are literally everything I can hope for. I'm now even stringing my racquet at 47 lbs and loving it. Keep up the great work and I'll keep watching.
Thank You & Keep Going
I like Nick's videos and have watched many of them. Especially the aesthetically pleasing Anna series,
The most honest tennis video ever, and much appreciated! The only main difference that isn’t due to strings would be a drastic change in weight, otherwise I agree completely!
I totally endorse your ways of explaining about tennis 🎾. Thank you
I use a Volkl C10 Pro that weighs 330g and I find it ploughs through the ball really well and it's very comfortable due to the flex making it comfortable and lower string tension usually at 46 to 48 pounds. With thinner frames you generally have a comfortable feel as they are not as stiff as thicker racquets.
This was a really interesting conversation on rackets, Nick. I began playing competitive tennis with the Prince Graphite (POG) and have always stayed with rackets that maintain that feel. I cannot and will not play with anything that resembles a Wilson Pro Staff! Head Prestige is too similar to Pro Staff so I don’t like it but I can and have used Radical line. But only pro or tour level rackets with lead tape.
I am somewhere 4.0 NTRP, I guess. As you know German tennis, I am LK 16 here, but winning versus LK 13 to 15 range (the system has been dramatically transformed in October '20, so that it's much easier to progress if you're defeating higher ranked players, especially in the LK12 to LK23 range.
I am using the Wilson Pro Staff 97 ULS due to a kind of accident: I had looked for a new racquet in 2019 and this one was the best offer out of 'tournament racquets'. It's very light at 270g and I really consider switching to a Pro Staff 97 L CV that is 290g. It's played by a club member and I tested it. I had the impression it allows more speed on serves and more stability on volleys plus a bit more power to my backhand.
Side note: I'd never looked for a 320g+ racquet and I totally agree to your statement, adding that recreational players tend to hit more balls too late or just improvisational (mostly due to bad footwork) and then use the arm instead of the whole body to hit the ball. A heavy racquet makes it more difficult to hit the ball at the right time.
Thanks, Nik. I am a come back player. I stopped playing regularly when I started college 45 years ago. Since then I have played maybe a dozen times. I have a 2015 Babolat Pure Drive which I like a great deal, but on the other hand I also still love playing with my vintage Head Arthur Ashe Comp 1, 2, and 3 racquets strung with Prince 17 gauge synthetic gut strings.
thanks this was really informative, ive had a babalot pure drive for over 10+ years (was a fan of Roddick growing up haha), but good to know that might be effecting me game because of the age of the frame!
For me I would say the overall weight and weight distribution of the racquet makes a difference. Obviously I lose a bit of serve speed with a lighter racquet, and weight distribution makes a difference at the net. My game would be the same from the baseline with either Wilson prostaff 6.1 or head pro tour 280, but it's easier for me at the net with the Wilson.
Great lesson! I'm a beginner (6 months old). Started out with a very light Wilson racquet 225g, developed elbow problems last week. I just switched to Yvonex 270g racquet this week & it feels much better. I think the heavier racquet absorbs the heavy shots better.
...equally compels me to swing properly.
Best advice and explanation I have viewed…thank you for reassuring me on my choice
Glad it was helpful!
So I am in mid 50s and started around 7 y ago. Am probably now at least 4.5 to 5+ player. I started (merely by chance) with a Volkl Organix 3, which is pretty light at 292gm. As I have gotten better, I have added weights to bring it up by an additional 24gm. The part I love is that this actually expands the sweet spot. Been incredible for volleys and against big heavy hitters, where my racquet never wobbles.
Well said. I was thinking about the same thing. The fact is string on the racket is so much more important than racket frame.
Going back memory lane, had the opportunity to use the Dunlop and the Prince in the 80s as a teenager. At high levels, the equipment makes a difference. Not to mention the psychological impact it gives the player.
Great topic, great advice
A light, head heavy, stiff racquet is a recipe for tennis elbow. Best to start with a standard sized 27 inch racquet with the weight that Nick recommended.
Racket construction is important. Technique matters, too. Around age 40, starting to play tournaments, I overhit the slicing motion in my one handed backhand and developed a painful elbow. I cleaned up and moderated my swing, reducing and then eliminating elbow pain. I later switched to a two handed backhand for other reasons.
Absolutely not. I am very sensitive to equipment and I tell you the racket is not very important but the string is! For example, this year, a Head Xtreme 105 inch head 275 grams almost broke my elbow in three matches with the original string, Head Lynx Tour. I cut the string and put MSV Focus Hex Plus 38 and my elbow healed and I am able to play much harder now. I am 45 years old. Out of scientific curiosity I tried that Head Lynx Tour string on my Pure Drive and it also broke my elbow. But other SOFTER strings are working just fine on that (rigid) Pure Drive. There is no such thing as a bad rigid racket if you choose from the best Babolats or Heads or Wilsons, there is only a poor choice of strings.
@@peter130476 you’re right strings are important and forgot to mention those. I’d still recommend a standard 27 inch racquet that is head light with a low string tension. If a person can afford I would advise them to string with natural gut.
Wouldn’t it therefore be right to try and add weight to the handle of light, stiff and hh racket? Just to try and reduce the vibration?
@@justinkong6906 if someone wants to experiment with lead tape on the handle I’d say go for it if they don’t want to try a new racquet. Multifilament strings are also worth checking out.
Great video! Last weekend, I picked up a racket for the first time in over 20 years and have been watching your channel. Athletes are superstitious in general, regardless of the sport. Everything needs to be perfect and as-is to repeat past successes. Very much mental I believe.
💯
agreed, I still play with the Original AeroPro Drive from 2004 and no plans on switching.
I finally decided to take your advice, I bought a Wilson Blade Team. It's basically a Pure Drive Lite with a 16 x 18 pattern, 99 sq inches and a high stiffness rating...so not really a Blade at all. I string it with gut mains and whichever decent poly I can find on sale for the crosses. My game has improved some but more importantly I can play as well in set three of doubles as I can in set one. Twenty five grams does not seem like much but to a recreational player, it's a lot. Thanks!
I love your sensible advice
Good stories & good advice. Love ol' Mel Purcell!
Weight, balance, and even grip size do matter. They affect maneuverability and feel, so timing and shot placement/control. Another large factor is strings and tension. How the ball plays off the same racquet can vary GREATLY with different strings and tensions. Granted, racquets from different eras can be similar, but racquets with widely different specs (length, weight, balance, swing weight and stiffness) can play very differently. Later in your video, you acknowledge this. I also think your spec recommendations for different level playersare pretty spot on. Thanks for all you do on your channel.
I knew a player who believed he could tell a difference changing string tension from 50 pounds to 51 pounds. I might notice a 5 pound change.
I used to think all my racket handles had to be 4 and 5/8ths. A few years ago I talked with a younger player who tried dropping from 4 and 1/2 to 4 and 1/8. I had noticed he was making fewer errors before he told me that.
My next racket purchase I dropped handle size to 4 and 1/4 and immediately benefitted. My hand and wrist felt more relaxed striking the ball.
Hey Nick, I'm a big fan of your instructional videos with Shamir. I was wondering if you can consider posting a video on improving tennis play in the wind. I'm a 4.5 player and feel I lack the consistency to win most times. Thanks!
play indoors
@@yeahsick123 not everyone has access to indoor courts
Thank you! Well said!
Great video. Thanks
Nice review. Thanks.
Hi Nick. I bought two used pure drive plus racquets and will be testing them out.
So true, so true. I had many racquets (advanced recreational level) - with the most of them I could play a good tennis, but the funny thing is - the heaviest one Yonex Rdis 100, 93 Sq In (350 g strung) was the most arm friendly for me. It always felt almost light but really stable, even after 3h of game. Unfortunately I have to say goodbye to this stick - grommets are used (cannot find the replacement) and my string is broken very quickly, too quickly. I am searching for a new one, probably Yonex, but as you said - it is in most of the cases, that thought in our head about racquets. Thanks for your videos!
Brutaly honest! Great video.
Hmm. As someone who took this sport up in middle age, I can state for a fact that the tweaking the small margins of racquets' (& other specs') variables make a true difference. I started with the same Pure Drive ^ (regular) with all polyester strings. Though I learned quickly with it, achieved good top spin early, the stiffness of this combo was murder on my arm. I accidentally found a way out via two Pure Strikes I picked up cheap (mk 1 & 2): the Mk. 1 was much more suitable. More progress came (via a Tecnifibre with similar specs) trialling multifilament cross-strings (at a higher tension!). An accidental purchase led me to own two different Head Gravity's (Pro & MP). I had reached my final destination, a racquet odyssey navigated unaided & despite macho posturings of racquet chauvinism from locals. I now have weighted the Pro to 370g total (warming up with the MP, with some lateral tape for stability, total 330g). Despite reviving the Babolats (same strings, tension, & adding similar weight), they don't play as well for my game. The advantages I gained from examining small margins gave true & undeniable benefit. I encourage others to invest in experimenting to find their optimal racquet & other specs. I can hit harder, play more feel, & for much longer, yet the impact on my elbow & muscles is now greatly minimised. SMALL MARGINS MATTER when you're body forces narrowed parameters on you.
Still playing with a 370 gram setup?
@@wee3622 Yup!
In my experience playing with a heavier frame actually reduces chances of tennis elbow. I’m only a 4.0 but a 300 gram pure drive feels like it’s transmitting all the shock of impact directly into my arm. I play with a weighted up Head speed pro (345gr). Zero issues.
Racket weight is not the issue of your tennis elbow. Its the stiffness of the racket, type of strings and string tension. IMO, that 3 factors combined with your technique and how you increase the intensity of practice and play matches, is the reason you got tennis elbow.
@@SweetOrangO Strings and racket stiffness have a bit of effect on transmitting shock but the weight of the racket is the main factor in how much shock will be transmitted into your arm. Its not really up for debate or a matter of opinion. It’s just physics. Imagine hitting a tennis ball with a badminton racket. Or a baseball with a wiffle ball bat vs a heavy wooden bat.
@@TheSuperDmyers sorry for the lack of words. I mean racket weight sometimes is not the main issue and there are other things/reasons to consider. For example, if a non muscular man use a 250gr racket and totally fine. Then that same racket borrowed by a muscular man and he get tennis elbow, yes its high possibility of the racket weight. Btw my exp is i had radical tour MP (1998 racket 340gr), K tour team and hyper hammer (270-280gr) for years and zero issue with my arm. Then i change to speed pro (330gr) for 6 years after i get better skills and getting tennis elbow too. Recently i change to clash 100 (300gr) and now the tennis elbow is gone. I strung that 2 racket with alu power rough 52lbs. And i am a "unofficial consultant" for few of my friends for arm issue because of that exp 😄. As i know, the pure drive stiffness is about 71 and speed pro about 62. Thats why my point is mostly tennis elbow because of the racket stiffness and wrong tension. CMIIW.
Heavier racket helps with my arm as well. I started with a 9 Oz Babolat Aero Team and I could feel vibrations go right up my arm against heavy shots.
@@Tennis_Fan2022 never use 9 oz (255gr) if you are a 20+ yo man. The shock to your arm will be terrible especially against a heavy shot. 255gr for teen boy or beginner man is okay. for 18+ yo man i'm recommend minimum 9.5oz (270gr) racket.
For advanced level players , heavier more flexible raquets are more stable and absorb ball shock better, better for the arm, I use a Volkl VCELL 10 335gr strung 7 headlight 66 flex , works better than a previous 320 volkl VSENSE V1 Pro 3 headlight 67 flex strung raquet ...swing weight is similar, and you are right about being all in your head for different raquets , but there are small things to consider and stick to it 🍀🍀
amazing! Thank you!
I'd consider different guidelines for the raquet weight. Back in the 80/90s all raquets were heavier and people had to develop good technique in order to play well. So for an aspiring player I would choose a slightly heavier raquet so s(he) can a) train his/her body and b) get used playing a good style c) some serves I cannot return with a 300g raquet.. how about returning 200km/h serves with such a raquet or even huge kick serves on clay that are not that fast. I love to have a raquet that can bring in some stability and the 250-300g raquets cannot offer that. So an intermediate player might get stuck in terms of technique and body development and even fun with tennis while playing with those lofty raquets. But generally I found your advise about raquet weight very sound. I play a 310g raquet and it suits me perfectly. I can also play with a 280g which feels like playing table tennis but makes it difficult to block the serve. It hugely depends on your style of play too. Djokovic playing a heavy raquet tells you a lot about it. He is not the strongest guy, but he loves to block the serve and has huge feel doing so. For that style you need a heavy raquet. Same with Andy Murray
Novak does not block back his returns. Ever...takes full swings, every time. Murray does rarely....Stan blocks his returns all the time
Light racquets are awesome! I used to be snobbish towards them, but had injuries with heavy racquets and switched to something lighter, flexible, mid plus racquet and it suits my game so much better than any of the heavier ones did
The truth ist: heavier rackets are more arm-frindley becaus a) they absorb more energie and b) they teach you to swing. Good swing-tecnic is the best against arm-problems! I switched from 295 to 315 gr. and my shoulder problems and my tecnic gets much better!
@@hermeneut I totally agree with you Tim. Light rackets almost always gave me tennis elbow, as did small grips. The heavier the racket, the more power it puts into the ball. You do have to find a balance, as not everyone can handle a 12.5 oz racket like I use, although I am by no means a big guy and age 72 to boot. My rackets are also head light, about 8 or 9 points, which helps. I found that the largest grip I can handle (4 and 5/8), also was easiest on my arm and shoulder.
I'm not that sensitive about which racquet I use, I've grown with the motto "if you're a good player, you can even play with a wooden spoon", but there are some things that I notice when changing racquets. It's mostly the stiffness and the string type/tension. Those I really my own 2 pet peeves. I string between 22-26 kg with RPM Blast. I had multiple racquets, borrowed a lot, but I've stuck with only 2 and that's about it, I'm going to use them for probably the rest of my playing time. And they're not from the same brand. Spec wise they're pretty much the same, with a slight difference in stiffness. Yonex Ezone DR98 and the 1st generation Babolat Pure Strike.
Totally agree with the reviewer .. I've played with dunlop, Yonex , tecnifibre and prince , both heavy (340gms ) to light racquets( 270gms) , small heads n big head and lost with them all and continue losing. Reason _ I rarely hit the court hence my shots are bad...my serve sucks and bh has no control ...Gotta just improve my basics and fundamentals of tennis ...It's just not the racquets.
Honestly, my game changes big time between the rackets that I own.
Speed elite, babolat aero pro, prestige youtek mp 18x20....
Huge difference in swing between all of them.
Speed elite is good for warming up, babolat is for just hitting the lights of the ball and prestige is for precision.
When I play with prestige, its like taking tennis to an absolute next level in everything, your brain has to work way more in order for prestige to be the best thing in the world
Been playing with different versions of the Head Prestige Pro for over 10yrs. Really enjoy those rackets.
Same herre! How are you finding the new version? I feel it’s way to flexible and doesn’t seem like a prestige at all 😅
@@benjaminskovbo3936 Tempted but have not tried this year's version. My current one is about 3yrs old.
I'm an intermediate who plays with a 2007 Roddick pure drive weighted at 336g.
I don't get any arm pain and I like the stability for serve returns, volleys, and off sweet-spot hits on the fly.
That said, I gave up some maneuverability at the net by adding the weight. And when I get tired in a match sometimes I can feel my swing getting lazy and "rolling over" but only if I'm gassed.
The last thing I notice is that with the extra weight, serving sometimes puts too much force on my wrist from pronation with the heavy racquet. I've got reasonably strong arms but dainty wrists 😬
I mostly find strings and weight/balance the crucial factors. I had super stiff tense polys for a while and volleys felt like I was using a paddle instead of a racquet 😕
I would just recommend demoing stuff! I personally love the Head Speed MP
I got a lot of joint pain from this racket (2021), and moved to 2022 ezone 100 with no more joint pain. I tested the same string and same tension on both racket, and the speed is still like a board even though it’s less stiff than the ezone. I think ezone has better dampening, and the head shape may help as well.
Both of the rackets are 300g unstrung and around 326g strung.
after seeing 50 videos about tennis racquet on youtube, this video makes more sense to me
talking straight facts. i like that a lot. :)
Right on. I wanted my Yonnex Vcore head to dip more, so added lead tape to the 12:00 and what a mistake...after 30 min I felt like my arm was going to tear off. It doesn't look like much, those strips of lead tape, but on the joints and connective tissue, arm felt horrible.
I'm 37, my weight is 66kg and in 90th I played with aliminium italian racquet, light and with wooden racquet. It was great experience.
Now for 4 years I play with racquet "Mayor", 395 gr strung, strings 25 kg, with a big thick handle. The racquet is stiff, produces low fast strokes with a great spin. The ball flows like bullet! I'm happy.
My training racquet is 400 gr strung, the first carbon version from far 80th and it's nice for improving the strength and it's up to my muscles.
I play, using forhand from both sides, and my elbows are good, no pain, perfect! I always win vs with different rivals!
I can't switch to racquets 300 gr.
My another racquet, Fischer version, "pacific" is about 340 gr strung and it's too light for me. May be in future I will return to light 340 gr racquet, but I have a doubt:)
And Nick, you're awesome!
you improvise .... Godspeed. and kudos
I used the Dunlop 200g, was superb!
hey nick, can you make a video about diet and tennis diet in particular?
Love the video - like you, I’m super sensitive to equipment. However, I had to use my girlfriends much lighter vcore 100 in a match due to snapped strings and actually played out of my mind. Form, technique, and timing are so much more important than equipment, and like you said, I think we psyche ourselves out and often blame the equipment instead of our focusing on the fundamentals
We tennis players are to varying degrees are nuts. I played a better player in a tournament. At the end of the 2nd set, I had broken strings in both my rackets and resorted to an old racket I didn't like anymore. I easily cruised to a three set victory with the despised frame. Next round was the following morning and I somehow got my two frames restrung. It never occurred to me to play with the old frame, even when I realized my preferred rackets were strung much tighter than what I liked.
funny you say that, I love my reg Vcore 100s but am 52 and my arm gets tired after 45min so I've took out a demo of the 100L and it just feels so much more comfortable. maybe a little lead here and there since it's 280g v 300g. I think I will carry the 100L in my bag and use it the last 45 min of my sessions and see how this goes.
This makes sense. There is a tennis coach youtube channel that recommends old players to use heavier racquets to prevent injuries, one example is for 60, 70 years old player to use RF 97, and I know the information was terribly wrong. I have seen 20 years old player having problem to handle RF 97.
I guess you could also learn to adjust your style to suit the racket over time. I know it's a bit tail wagging the dog but if you're on a budget or frankly don't know what will work for you, learning to adjust how strongly you grip and how you use the racket will change how the ball behaves. I've got a control setup for the strings and even then I can ping a ball like it's set up for power when playing at the net if I grip the racket too firmly!
Man I've been using Dunlop 200g since high school. I have good power and great control. Deep down I feel this obsession with string tension, type of string, and other things like "this racket is good for speed, this one for power". I feel like that really gets into rec players heads.
I've been using a pair of very old Babolat pure drives (2008 and 2010 I think) since high school and this year I finally decided to demo some new rackets. I was switching between my old pure drives and this demo pure aero and both rackets were strung with the same strings. I couldn't personally feel much of a difference, but everyone I hit with insisted that my shots were much much heavier when I was using the pure aero. They also insisted my serves were much faster when I was using the pure drive. I think I'm one of those people who maybe isn't so sensitive to the differences between the rackets... But I'm pretty sure that the different rackets are having an effect on my game, I'm just not perceptive enough to feel it coming off the strings. That said I'm not playing for money or anything, and one thing I absolutely did notice is that the pure aero breaks strings so much faster. I string my own rackets so I thought maybe I was doing something wrong, so I decided to pay one time to have a professional do it, and I used the highest durability strings that that stringer recommended, it was like head hawk or something, and they still broke within 8 hours of play. I mean I guess it's more evidence that the racket is doing something very significant to aid in spin production but at the end of the day I just don't got the time to be stringing my racket every three times I play XD so I guess I'll stick with my old pure drives.
Aero has definitely more spin potential
I started a match using the Yonex VCore 98. Lost the first set 4-6. Hit a ton of errors. Mostly long. Switched to the VCore 95. Won the next two sets 6-1, 6-2. Control is #1. I didn't sacrifice much power and I gained a ton of control. Playing with overpowered rackets can be feast or famine. I've learned a lesson. Give me control over power any day.
Yea...this guy is bugging. Difference between a clash and a blade will make you (me) think you only imagined you knew how to play.
I'm not a tennis pro, Nik, but I have been playing tennis for around 60 years and, in my personal experience, many rackets do differ a LOT. Some rackets have a very low launch angle and some have a high one. To switch from one to the other definitely requires modifying one's technique. Likewise, playing with a lively multifilament requires a technique change from playing with a "dead" poly (I mention strings here because you can't consider rackets without taking account of the strings being used). My last point: if your technique is based on heavy topspin produced by a "whippy" racket, you will not be able to duplicate that style of play with a racket with a very high swingweight (unless you're an accomplished pro). As far as pros being able to pick up and play with any racket without missing a beat, how do you explain the relatively uncommon sight of a pro actually switching to a different racket? They even go so far as to change the paint job of their old racket to make it look like the newest racket which they "endorse" I think the same points apply to violinists and violins. The instrument was invented way back in the 16th century and was brought to a very high level not long thereafter. A good violinist can switch to any violin, old or new, but the sound produced and the subtleties of technique required will differ instrument to instrument. Some violins just don't sound as good as others playing, for example, Baroque period music, just like some tennis rackets are better for baseliners than serve and vollyers or doubles players.
Agreed. IMO, broad technique and experience of a player is help a lot to adjust technique with the racket specs.
Babolat pure drive and aero is just a slight difference. He should explain it more in this vid with different racket generations and "wider" specs. Lets say like speed pro vs instinct pwr. Same brand, totally different specs.
Yes I'm recreational player and changing racket definitely helped me to realise that I wasn't playing with the right racket for me. Pure Aero and Pure Drive are not that much different and are not a good example.
This just illustrates that you’re an amateur even moreso.
Agree. First I used to play with an Aero, I felt like a needed more control; now I play with a Blade. It feels like playing a different game.
Great video. I have been retired from playing due to health issues but your videos are super inspirational. Maybe, I can make one more comeback. Thanks.
Do it
Great and honest video! Unfortunately many of us are victims or marketing by the racket companies.
I grew up with playing heavy rackets (POG, Prostaff 6.1, Prince CTS series, etc.) and anything lower than 320 feels like a fly swatter to me. My favorite is leaded up to around 350, and I just let the racket do the work with slower smooth swings. (somehow the fast swings don't work for me). Unfortunately I do tire quickly which is my lack of conditioning problem. :(
Very good summary and specifically about the weight i might have to reconsider my current raquet. There is one thing however i do not fully agree. You say that on modern raquets it does not really matter much about which one persons take if it is just a modern raquet. The main difference i see between raquets is the weight balance. Some are more head weighted some are more grip weighted and this is for me the most important difference in raquets. I agree it is not the brand if weight and specifically also weight balance are the same then most probably also the performance is the same.
To my person. I am 50 years of age and my last competition match was roughly 20 years ago. at that time i played in the second highest league in germany at the mens 30. So not too bad, but also not a pro. At that time my level according to german rating system was LK 5-6. As i did not play a single match since then my LK meanwhile is only about LK 24. My estimated current realistic strength if i would play competition is about LK 12-16 maybe. I still play tennis, just no competition anymore till this year and so i also did not need a Serve or Smash anymore. 2 years ago i bought a new raquet the black and white wilson pro staff from roger federer that has 315 weight. So according to your rules this would be too heavy for me. And maybe here i really have to agree. 2 years ago i took this raquet and the basestrokes forehand and backhand felt perfect for my play. Still the feeling in those is perfect for me.
But now i decided to play competition again next year after 20 years of competition abstinence. I played some trainingsmatches meanwhile and they went well except for one thing. Now i also had to use service and smash again. And the outcome is that i can serve, but the downside is that since i've been doing serves and smashes, i have serious shoulder and neck pain. I can imagine that now that I've seen this video, it's caused by the weight of the racket. It is simply too heavy. I might have to reduce this to a raquet having less weight maybe 270-max 300.
Thanks again. Your Video maybe explained my pains.
Great video Nick. The weight you suggest: strung or unstrung? Thanks
I bought a great Wilson Racket at Costco a few months ago for $50. It was the only racket they had and they had only 1 grip size 3/8 which was good for me anyway.
Nick. you are funny! i laughed out loud when you said that tennis players have to find something to blame when they miss a shot
Me too and it's 100% true.
Also depends what you are used to. I played competive tennis 35 years ago with a very heavy racket. Came back to playing at 60 and still play much better with my 350 gram rackets. I tried some the newer, light, stiffer rackets and that caused arm issues. The heavier racket does the work for you if you swing properly.
There was an engineer from Panama that beat me really bad in office tennis league. His racket is 20 dollars from Walmart. He said he hits so hard and break racket and strings too often, sick of spending money on racket.
I notice string tension and swing weight are more important to me than brand / model / color etc. I notice the shape of the grip too when swapping brands.
Interesting observations though.
Wow thank you.you save me because im about to change may racquet.