As someone who owns a saber, I strongly recommend it. But here are two important points. 1. the saber needs to be strung at a much lower tension. If your normal string setup is 50 lbs on a 100-sq inch, a saber should be strung at 30lbs. Theoretically, it is calculated as 50*sqrt(37/100). Soft-poly or even multifilament works the best. 2. the saber is more of a warm-up / drill / training tool. Any training with the saber for more than 20 min might (negatively) affect your swing path and feel. A fun training method in my varsity team with the saber: two players play tie-breaks, but one of them will use a saber, and then alternates.
At first I had trouble feeding the ball off the air with the Saber to start a practice rally, which I solved by letting the ball bounce off the floor before I hit. I still can’t slice with it to bail myself out of being out of position, so now I improved the footwork with a sense of urgency to get behind the ball sooner. The only trouble left for me, is to figure out how to do a 2nd serve with it without framing the bottom. I do recommend it, since it did help me to keep focus on the ball longer and to flatten out ball when I get a short sitter. It’s a less powerful racquet so I can’t rely on pure topspin and not engaging the whole kinetic chain. I did change out the string to full poly for crispier feel.
love my saber. it's a bit pricey but the build quality is really high and super fun to play with. need to try restringing it with some crazy shaped string 😛
WOW Nic ! What top tennis quality ! By the way, since I'm thinking about going to the US, where does Nic live or what facilities does you teach at ? Thanks, and have a nice day
Not sure if it's just me (I don't think it is) but a lot your videos are underexposed Nik. Please consider increasing the overall exposure before rendering! I'm a big fan of your work. Thanks!
I’ve found it surprisingly comfortable. If a player has tennis elbow, for some it may help correct the common cause of it (taking the ball behind instead of in front of oneself) because it will be difficult to keep the ball in the court when attempting to strike the ball anywhere except in front of oneself. Players are forced to move their feet to get in position or they won’t make contact, or will shank.
Too expensive. Just get an old wooden racquet in good shape for a few dollars. It serves the same purpose and they are actually fun to play with. That having been said, it would seem fair to say that a player of Nick's caliber could do fairly well with a frying pan.
Firstly, I like the wooden racket idea. Just realize that the rackets will likely break easily, and will also have to be strung (likely with string that is costly and will also easily break), which means both sunk and recurring costs. Still a great idea, though. For some the Saber may seem expensive. However, I can’t stress enough how high quality this racket is - and with consideration that a prototype probably had to be designed, made and then commercialized, it’s darned cheap. However, cost is directly proportional to use with these items. For a high school coach, for example, the immense novelty value that junior players derive from it (read: “memorable fun”) while simultaneously practicing two of the most important pillars of tennis - tracking the ball all the way to the strings, while moving one’s feet to get in position - tilt the Saber’s cost:benefit analysis heavily toward the “benefit” side of the equation. I especially like this for the warmup portion of practices, and it is something they can be reminded of in later practices and matches when they are not tracking the ball or moving the feet. I also compared pricing of Saber to the cost of a tennis lesson, which in most US cities is ~ 2 indoor lessons : 1 Saber. However, like any training implement, if it is purchased on a whim with the hopes that its collecting dust will magically make one a better player - then yes, in that case, it is expensive. To reiterate, tho, the FT people and whoever they contracted with created something that should be applauded, if for the exceptional design and quality, alone. And no, I have no affiliation with the company. 😂
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🎾 Get 10% OFF the Functional Tennis Saber
ENTER COUPON CODE BF10
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As someone who owns a saber, I strongly recommend it. But here are two important points.
1. the saber needs to be strung at a much lower tension. If your normal string setup is 50 lbs on a 100-sq inch, a saber should be strung at 30lbs. Theoretically, it is calculated as 50*sqrt(37/100). Soft-poly or even multifilament works the best.
2. the saber is more of a warm-up / drill / training tool. Any training with the saber for more than 20 min might (negatively) affect your swing path and feel.
A fun training method in my varsity team with the saber: two players play tie-breaks, but one of them will use a saber, and then alternates.
Wanted it for a while. Just ordered it. Nick, thanks for the coupon!
🤗
I agree!! picking up the ball is tough! Nice striking Nikola, you serve so well with the Saber!!
I was surprised 💯
I like the cameo by Ace the tennis lizard @ 5:38! Love your videos, I learn a lot. I'm going to order a Saber even though I missed the BF sale.
what is the brand of the white racquet you currently use, how about the pure drive?
I have been using my Wilson PS-85 in this role for years to tune my fundamentals in practice, it really works.
Same
Exactly, plus you can actually play competitive matches with the PS85 too.
I had a chance to speak with Fabio from Saber. He is an awesome guy and has worked really hard to bring his racket to market. Support him! 🙌
Thank you Nik for listening to the people!!!!
Thanks. I’m going to use your code
At first I had trouble feeding the ball off the air with the Saber to start a practice rally, which I solved by letting the ball bounce off the floor before I hit. I still can’t slice with it to bail myself out of being out of position, so now I improved the footwork with a sense of urgency to get behind the ball sooner. The only trouble left for me, is to figure out how to do a 2nd serve with it without framing the bottom. I do recommend it, since it did help me to keep focus on the ball longer and to flatten out ball when I get a short sitter. It’s a less powerful racquet so I can’t rely on pure topspin and not engaging the whole kinetic chain. I did change out the string to full poly for crispier feel.
love my saber. it's a bit pricey but the build quality is really high and super fun to play with. need to try restringing it with some crazy shaped string 😛
WOW Nic !
What top tennis quality !
By the way, since I'm thinking about going to the US, where does Nic live or what facilities does you teach at ?
Thanks, and have a nice day
Okay you sold me. I impulse-bought it. 💸
When practicing with the wood spoon should I use my normal grip or always continental to hit flat?
Use a full western grip and follow through with a buggy whip.
2 ft out of the doubles alley.
"That was wide, right?"
😉
Pretty sure the racquet is shorter. It's length ends up matching the sweet spot location of most 27inch racquets
Not sure if it's just me (I don't think it is) but a lot your videos are underexposed Nik. Please consider increasing the overall exposure before rendering! I'm a big fan of your work. Thanks!
I don't think so. The lighting is very harsh and sunny where he is. I think upping the exposure might blow the highlights.
Worried about arm issues with all the shanking that might come from it. How long should you hit with it?
Biased answer but I’ve been using it for 18 months (testing prototypes etc) without issues
@@FabioMolle I meant per session
@@DanTuber 5-20 minutes but I've seen people including Nikola play matches with it!
I’ve found it surprisingly comfortable. If a player has tennis elbow, for some it may help correct the common cause of it (taking the ball behind instead of in front of oneself) because it will be difficult to keep the ball in the court when attempting to strike the ball anywhere except in front of oneself. Players are forced to move their feet to get in position or they won’t make contact, or will shank.
Old squash racket?
👍
Nick shows in almost all videos how good he is. Super ego
Too expensive. Just get an old wooden racquet in good shape for a few dollars. It serves the same purpose and they are actually fun to play with. That having been said, it would seem fair to say that a player of Nick's caliber could do fairly well with a frying pan.
Firstly, I like the wooden racket idea. Just realize that the rackets will likely break easily, and will also have to be strung (likely with string that is costly and will also easily break), which means both sunk and recurring costs. Still a great idea, though.
For some the Saber may seem expensive. However, I can’t stress enough how high quality this racket is - and with consideration that a prototype probably had to be designed, made and then commercialized, it’s darned cheap.
However, cost is directly proportional to use with these items. For a high school coach, for example, the immense novelty value that junior players derive from it (read: “memorable fun”) while simultaneously practicing two of the most important pillars of tennis - tracking the ball all the way to the strings, while moving one’s feet to get in position - tilt the Saber’s cost:benefit analysis heavily toward the “benefit” side of the equation. I especially like this for the warmup portion of practices, and it is something they can be reminded of in later practices and matches when they are not tracking the ball or moving the feet.
I also compared pricing of Saber to the cost of a tennis lesson, which in most US cities is ~ 2 indoor lessons : 1 Saber.
However, like any training implement, if it is purchased on a whim with the hopes that its collecting dust will magically make one a better player - then yes, in that case, it is expensive.
To reiterate, tho, the FT people and whoever they contracted with created something that should be applauded, if for the exceptional design and quality, alone.
And no, I have no affiliation with the company. 😂
@@AMuzzarelli77 🤪🤪🤪