I hope I was able to help shed some light on the actual racquets the top players are actually using. If you found some value in this video please hit the like button!
@@amineb1009 Technically no, they use an H22 which is available in a range of specs and layups, though it’s the same mold. Fair to say the Blade Pro is one particular H22 variant that Wilson sells to retail, with a layup and spec they deem suited to the general public that falls within the advanced player demographic.
@@jerome_morrow So the only racket that is being really used under the paint job is Technifibre ? I thought Zverev uses a Head Gravity Pro, the Youtek Speed MP looks to me as a different mold than what he is using in competition. Could be wrong , its difficult to tell :)
@@amineb1009 Zverev uses the pro-stock version of the Gravity Pro which was designed with his input. HEAD has a convoluted system of engineering codes that designate their racquets, whether pro-stock or retail. Obviously far more pro-stock codes exist than retail ones due to the many variations for different pros. Eg: TGK344 - Retail Gravity Pro TGT344.3 - Zverev pro-stock variant with a slightly different 18x20 drill pattern TGT344.1 - Barty pro-stock variant with 16x19 drill pattern What’s good to note is that all TGT334 and TGK334 have the same mold and layup, and come off the same production line in China. There’s no conspiracy that the TGK334 is some sort of cut-rate version just because it’s a retail stick. There’s no need to go hunting for and paying crazy dollars for a pro-stock with magic dust!
This is why I buy older rackets from years previous, they always are just as good as their newer counterparts and taking the time to research them can lead you to something perfect for your game for significantly less in cost.
At rec level, I feel like I can use any racquet, as long as they're not too out of date. After a while you adjust to the new racquet. Pros did the same, like Djokivic switching to Head. It took him longer to adjust because he's at the very top level, but for rec players, you can adjust in just a set. I played with the Wison Prostaff 6.1 for the longest time, but it got too heavy for me as I aged. Switching to Head radical MP and adding a bit of weight is no problem at all. I paid $100 for older model.
Rublev's racket is blacked out because he actually switched to the Head Gravity Pro pro stock some time in 2020; notice the teardrop head shape of the racket. He just can't endorse the racket until Head sponsors him. Also, Zverev actually uses a Gravity Pro (pro stock + customization). The head shape and mold are very similar to the IG Speed MP he used before, but he switched sometime in late 2019 if I'm not mistaken. His rackets have probably been customized to his spec by altering the weight in the layup because I don't think you can visibly see any lead on them like before. Medvedev is a strange one. He endorses the 305g TFight models, but he really uses a TFight Dynacore 305g from 2015, back when they were 95 sq in rackets. His is customized up to around 360 grams, so he's definitely got a hammer; very similar racket to what Djokovic uses. Makes sense though; he's got different stroke mechanics than Djokovic but ultimately a pretty similar playstyle.
Exactly what I wanted to say about Rublev and Zverev. Both using the same mold, literally that is how Rublev got into the Gravity which lifted his game. They were practicing together,picked up Sascha’s racket (which was by that time the Gravity which he actually came up with,customized for himself and paintjob and all...) he loved it and was already struggling a bit in his mind about switching and just did that with like 1.5 years still of contract with Wilson. Apparently his contract will run out sometime this year.
This has been going on for decades. I remember back in the day Becker rebranded his preferred Puma BB Super with the Estusa logo and after he parted with Estusa, he took the same mold to Head where they released it under his own branding.
Looking to be better than tennis warehouse lol. They’re job is to sell racquets so how can anyone fully trust their reviews? (that’s why I started my channel) I just bring my honest opinion of all racquets and tennis topics with no other motives. Thanks for watching!
If anything this is good for rec players to know that they don’t need the newest rackets with the “best technology,” since if there were any big differences the pros would switch to the newest models. Great vids!
That’s right and even small changes in their gear can have a big effect on their game. Last thing you want at that level is to be thinking about your racquet while battling for a title.
This is true but also somewhat misleading. Take Tsitsipas for example. He's using the 2013 version of the blade in 2021. But that's still a brand new, made in 2021 racket, just from the 2013 mold. I see tons of rec players sticking to old rackets and saying "well the pros don't really switch rackets, they just paint the old ones to look like the new ones" in order to justify not upgrading. But they're using 2013 rackets in 2021, which albeit subjectively, aren't as good. Do you really need the 2021 model when you have the 2020 model? No. But would you benefit from the 2021 model after playing with the 2013 model, more often than not, yes.
riight, I just switched to a 300g raquet (now Head MP extreme), used to play 315g unstrung (Babolat Drive Pro). For the amateurs watching, careful with the stiffness factor. After 8 years playing injury free, Babolat really destroyed my shoulder joint and also got a tennis elbow as a bonus. Now with Head Extreme I have the pop, the spin but without the stiffness and 300g is enough for me. No problems held. The raquets pro staff with weights above 320g should really be avoided by amateurs because you will get injured FOR SURE.
Thanks for the comment! For sure need to be careful. I’ve even heard suggestions that juniors should be limited to how stiff a racquet they should use to avoid injuries and promote sport longevity.
@@MikeKomen definitely needs to be adapted to the player, no? Loved the feel of Babolat Drive, but definitely didn't love recovering 4 months from a shoulder joint inflamation. Also I have not had a tennis elbow in 9 years (been playing way longer than that but my technique got corrected 9 years ago and since then had no injuries).
Nice vid 👍 Worth noting thiem uses the 18x20 pure strike and Medvedev doesn’t use the xtc 305, it’s the dynacore or possibly even the 2013 Tfight which has a 95 sq inch head.
I'm having Benoit Pair racket and his racket with no specifications on it, only sticker with his name,handle full of silicone inside but the rest looks same,also I asked some pro (from top 100) about their rackets and many having standard versions,for example-Medvedev told me what his racket is not customized.
I play with the IG Prestige MP, 27.60 inches, 375 grams, 386 swingweight. I bought a matched set of four of them in 2010/2011 and have been using them since. The only other frames that I've used are YT Prestige MPs (27.75 inches and similar specs to the IGs), and an RF97 that I playtested. The IG Prestige MP is relatively flexible so pretty good for those with arm issues. It's also considered a low-powered racquet but lead tape adds a lot of power. The main thing is that I've used the same frames for the last ten years - I think that it's easier to improve your frame if you keep variables to a minimum and one of those variables is the frame.
Funny how this showed up in my feed today. You will probably find this crazy, but while I am currently playing around with the newer Prestige racquets, and have been playing with the Prince Graphite Classic from just a few years ago, my favorite racquet, where I feel like I am basically catching the ball and throwing it wherever I want is the Wilson Graphite Matrix from the 80’s. The “Poor Man’s Pro-Staff” in a way, without the PWS on the side, coming in around 355g., and only an 85 sq in headsize. Wish they still made it and I didn’t have to take chances on eBay....
A few corrections: 1) Schwartzman racket is not custom mold but YT/IG radical MP that was retail. Identical layup to the retail 2) Zverev is indeed using the Gravity Pro (not the Speed). So is Rublev 3) Novak is not using the PT113B (that racket was discontinued in 2019). He is using the PT346.1
I was reading conflicting information about the weight of their racquets so I didn’t want to put it in the video, but I think some people in the comments have found it. Thanks for watching Wladner!
I play with Prince Spectrum Comp 110. I got it 2016. It is great for play. I love it becasue it is old, but one could never tell. It allows me to play all the shots.
I use a Head Pro Lite Tour '98, leaded up to 335 gr strung, and the reason why i play with such an old racquet is that no morden one offers you that unique, solid, consistant feeling, when you just literally percept the ball on the stringbed. Probably that is thanks to twaron, which head used back at those years.
360 grams sounds extremely heavy, it just goes to show how much strength and physical conditioning it takes to be a professional player. I would like if you do a similar video on other players like Wawrinka, Cilic, Nishikori, Raonic, etc. Stan must be using a very heavy racquet to control his shots.
I managed to get my hands on an old ultra 2 former top 10 women's player's racquet. It has an inherent weight of about 395 grams. The shelf version was 360 grams. It's such false advertising with these paint jobs. I always respected Sampras' clarity with openly only playing with the St Vincent Prostaff 85.
I just weighed the racket I played with yesterday. 339 grams. I'm in my 70's and not remarkably strong. In my 40's most of my rackets were around 365 grams. I always play with a leather grip + tourna grip and sometimes add lead tape, at the 12 o clock position . I started adjusting frame weight after frustration with my 3 Prince Diablo Mid frames, which all played differently. A lot. I played a few years with a Wilson T-2000 in the 1970's. I googled its strung weight just now: 385 grams. Seems about right. Head size 67. That was a powerful frame.
Thanks for the comment Stephen! Your comment speaks volumes about the progress and change in the game. The swing style has changed dramatically over time moving from very flat shots with linear swings to topspin shots with loopy swings. The balance and average weights of racquets had to follow to match the modern game. Thanks for watching Stephen!
@@MikeKomen Well explained, and I'm sure you're right, Mike. You might make a video explaining Shieh Su-Wei's racket mods and how she moves her hands on her racket's grip. A marvel to me.
I still play using my Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus, and Prince O3 Speedport Black OS from when I was in high-school back in 2007-2011. They're 10+ years old and still going strong.
Nice video mate, I haven't even been getting any notifications of yours unfortunately lol - wouldn't stress about some of the over the top comments, it ain't even that serious 🤭 Fun fact: As stiff as Pure Strikes are, Dominic uses a stiffer layup than retail
This is a decent attempt at a rather complex topic; the bottom line is that pros most often are not using the racquet they are endorsing. However, you have a number of errors and inaccuracies. For example, Zverev does indeed use a pro-stock version of the Gravity Pro (TGT344.3). The average tennis fan is not actually that concerned by such minutiae, so your content is still worthwhile and informative. The other question many fans often like to know is whether their retail racquet is actually a reasonably close version of the pro-stock stick their favourite player is using. In the case of Zverev, the retail Gravity Pro has the same mold and layup as his pro-stock version. The difference is in the weight, balance and swingweight where his specs far exceed that playable by tennis muggles. The 18x20 drill pattern he has is also slightly different from the retail stick, but that’s largely a minor variance. In the case of Djokovic, well... forget about even getting anything close to his PT346 in the retail market!
Thanks for the extra detail Jerome! That’s why this tennis community is the best! I agree retail rackets have come a long way and as long as you find something that suits your game it’s all good I say. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen Totally! It’s crazy how some people are so fanatical in their search for that magic stick that they are willing to pay huge prices for pro-stock racquets when there are so many good racquets available at retail which are likely a better fit for their game. There really is no conspiracy going on that the pros get the top grade stuff whilst retail gets the dressed up cheap and nasty sticks. HEAD PT346’s and Wilson H22’s aside, many pro-stock racquets are the same mold and layup of either a current or past retail stick, just customised to the required specs for each particular pro.
I think it’s for sure an improvement over the last one. If you liked any of the old ones you’ll really like this new one. I’ve got a full review of it up on my channel already if you want to check it out!
Mike, you are saying on the vid that Domi is using the 3rd version,but he actually uses the first version the black and red old one repainted. But thanks for the vid,it is a good one :)
The youngsters may not remember that, but up until the late ‘80s tennis racquets were all heavier than the ones sold today. 355 grams was the standard for most of them. Most people played with them (including women) and they were still able to play. The truth is that the tennis racquet is very important when it comes to reaching your potential in the pro circuit. Every player has requirements for what their racquet should feel like, in order to suit their personal needs. That is not a surprise as people are built differently. Good content in this video!
in one of the tennis tv videos, someone was talking about rublev's forehand and his racquet weighs much less than what you are mentioning. Even I was surprised
@@MikeKomen Thanks so much replying. I just can't find that video rn 🙈. But I do remember John milman and Bublik talked about it. But look what I found for you: ruclips.net/video/KLHatn-Knp8/видео.html I also have one question, can you explain what advantages does a 18*19 string pattern have?
Good Video. I love my first generation Wilson Ultra 110 with 18×16 string pattern. This racquet weighs in, strung up, with winking emoji dampner, beer or wine butt cap sticker and pink overgrip at a whopping 280 grams. I hybrid the string and get wicked spin.
That’s a great idea for a video. He used an older ProStaff for a few years while repoing the newer models but that changed when the first autograph edition came out.
A couple of ideas to take away from this video. Touring Professionals tend to use modified Pro Stock racquets that are weigh more than stock models. A heavy hammer will drive a nail in with more force if you can swing it. Many touring pros tend to stay with the same racquet for a long time. Recreational players should hit with a racquet that actually fits their skills and fitness level not one that is endorsed by their favorite player. A heavy racquet can really put lots of stress on your arm and elbow if you’re not in exceptional condition. It requires lots more swing speed and precision to generate pace with a smaller head and string surface.
Good info. 340 grams is not a heavy racket though. Swing weight is probably more important than static weight too but it is more difficult to get the swing weight of pros as most of the top guys send their rackets to a private matching firm to have them customized to their desired weight, balance and swing weight. Rafa's racket is a fairly light 340 grams but I have seen reports that his swing weight is 355 and he reported went up a little from there a couple of years ago. I've seen reports that Djokovic's swing weight is around 370 too which is toward the high end even for pros. My personal belief is most stock retail rackets are too light and the swing weight is too low.
330-335 is about the limit for me. I’m a pretty fit guy (not as ripped as Rafa lol) but playing consistently at 340 or above is taxing on the arm for the average player. My two cents. Thanks for the comment!
Hey Mike, I currently use the Head speed pro back from 2018. I am a high school player, and sometimes have late contact due to the heaviness of the racket. I was wondering, in your opinion, what would be a good option for me. A racket that has similar specs(stability,control,feel) and that is less heavy but still stable. What do you recommend?
Hey Gregory! First of all thank you for watching! I would recommend you try the Yonex vcore 95 and Dunlop cx200 tour both fell super crisp and swing quick while maintaining great stability. My main racquet is the vcore95 and I’ve been loving it for 2 years now. If you’re making any tennis purchases I kindly ask you to use my link to RacquetGuys. They have great deals and price match and I get a small kickback from the referral link so it helps the channel! Hope that helps
First video yourself and make sure you’re turning and preparing at the second the ball is on your opponent’s rqt and coming off - If you’re a little late turning and preparing then you’ll be late hitting and the rqt will really feel heavy !
Djokovic use a mold similar to a Head LiquidMetal Radical with 18x19 string pattern and a bit more longer (27.10). Gasquet uses an Head Instinct LiquidMetal XL, that is not an Extreme. Yeah LiquidMetal's racquets were great lol
From the looks of the frame, it's a Yonex vcore95 SV probably with some customizations for him. Thanks for watching Jay. Might do an all Canadian edition of this topic in the future, and dig up some more details.
Its actually a yonex Xi the last time I checked. Unless he changed it super recently. Both shapo and Stan were using the same xi model for a long time.
Don't worry Gabriel haha I have two videos just about Fed. One where I ate and trained like him for a day and one all about all the racquets he's used!
Djokovic's racket helps make him "the greatest returner in the world." In his day Andre Agassi was a great returner. How did his racket contribute to that when compared with the rackets of his fellow players?
Agassi’s racquet at the time was a much larger headsize that what almost everyone was using at the time. Definitely helped him have some extra pop and room for error.
At 6’ 200lbs with a decent stroke should I be adding lead tape to my racquet? I use the white and black head youtek from 2012. I think it weighs 265grams. My shot feels very slow compared to how hard I feel like I’m swinging. Thanks in advance.
Hey CJ! That would be a good option for you in my opinion, you could also test out a heavier frame first like a vcore pro 330g and see how you like it before adding lead to your frame. Thanks for watching!
Boris Becker once said that the some of the players in the 90's used rackets that were over 400g, with Sampras's racket weighing around 460g. That's 3 slices of wheat bread heavier than Novak's. I think more importantly than the weight is the Balance Point.
Nope, Roman Prokes makes ie. Djokovic racquets (352gr not 360) by hand. He says that every frame which comes from the factory is different in weight and balance. He needs to balance them by hand one at a time. One racquet takes 3 hours.
Not a lot as far as I know. Djokovic 27.25" since returning from the elbow injury, Schwartzman 28.00", Monfils 27.50", Isner 27.50". It says a lot that there is little to be gained at the top level compared to the standard 27.00". I'll edit this to include Gasquet 27.5".
I have a Wilson pro staff rf edition I have added lead to the head as it’s so light only issue is it weighs in at 365 grams what’s the issues with this?
I believe these are strung weights. I couldn’t find enough info on swingweight. As for what’s more important it’s all about personal preference and what you’re looking to get out of the frame.
Love this topic! A lot of pro stocks will come in a very light spec as well. Manufacturers may produce bare hair pins at around 300g to allow the customizer extra room to play with.
Great insight! That’s why the Wilson Pro Labs racquets are on the lighter side as well for the average consumer to customize to their liking. The Pro Labs racquets are a great option for people looking to get the “pro stock” experience. Thanks for watching!
I think Djokovic also has a slight lengh added. Like 27.1 inch or something small but it's slightly longer. This was added like 6 years ago or something. Wasn't always like this.
I just added what I could find. I didn’t see the swing weights posted for many of these so I didn’t add it. If you find more info on sw online please add it here, it would be super helpful!
I do laugh when Tenniswarehouse 'review' their stock of rackets. "This racket [insert from below] -is Solid -gives a super Plush feeling -Generates great power (racket not player) -Feels super smooth on contact.. -is a 'player's' racket.. -Is really good for angles.. -has great whip (!! Wtf) -has great plow through -is super stable -is really sharp with volleys 🤔, -great carving through the ball/court. -makes me real like I can dominate the court (only if I'm better than the opponent that is) -gives me the 'security' the crush the ball -give me the confidence to go for the lines. - gives great 'feel' (yep the racket has synapses now' -means I always hit good length.. "Also the racket incorporates the newest 'technology' that the marketing department came up with.. To name a few.." Ampifeel.. Basalt matrix, Youtek, Graphene, FST- fast speed technology, Woofer system, (I kid you not) Cortex system, Isometric frame, 360+ technology (wait what!!!), All bullshit designed for you to make an impulse buy..
Fed uses the ProStaff RF with some personal touches on it. He wasn't in the video since this one was focused on players at this year's AO. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen Yeah, I know this video is AO only. However I would like to know more about Roger's player issued racquet. Probably a lot of people does as well :) If you can make a video about that in the future that would be great! Loving the content!
Fed’s racquet is probably closer to retail stock than anyone else’s in the top 10. It makes sense, Wilson designed the mold just for him when he was trying out new prototypes back in 2013-2014. His personal racquets are probably made for him with a tighter tolerance on weight and balance than retail units. Priority One is the company that customizes his racquet for him. His grip seems custom, slightly rounder than stock, and the buttcap isn’t as flared. A small amount of lead tape is added in the upper hoop under the guard. His racquets are strung with 3 leather power pads at the 6 o’clock position, along with string savers just above the center of the string bed. I don’t think he has any lead tape or silicone in the handle. He strings with natural gut in the mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough in the cross. Keep in mind that this is the longest break from the tour that he’s ever had in his career, and may return with a slightly different setup since he’s had time to play around with specs.
The more head light it is means that more of the weight is towards the handle while the lower the number the more weight that is distributed towards the top. A handle heavy racquet will usually be easier to create racquet head speed while a frame that is more head heavy will transfer more force to the ball buy may be harder to generate racquet head speed on the swing.
There is no way that Medvedev is swinging a 305!!!it's crazy to think that if somebody stole his rackets he could just roll up to the local sports store and buy some new ones. The last time I heard a player doing that it was Arthur Ashe and Federer of course
A few people corrected in the comments that he’s using an older technifibre racquet. Tough to find the accurate info for some players. Thanks for watching!
I hope I was able to help shed some light on the actual racquets the top players are actually using. If you found some value in this video please hit the like button!
What about the new line of Wilson Pro Labs ? They have the Blade Pro isn't that used by the pros? www.wilson.com/en-us/tennis/pro-labs
@@amineb1009 Technically no, they use an H22 which is available in a range of specs and layups, though it’s the same mold. Fair to say the Blade Pro is one particular H22 variant that Wilson sells to retail, with a layup and spec they deem suited to the general public that falls within the advanced player demographic.
@@jerome_morrow So the only racket that is being really used under the paint job is Technifibre ? I thought Zverev uses a Head Gravity Pro, the Youtek Speed MP looks to me as a different mold than what he is using in competition. Could be wrong , its difficult to tell :)
@@amineb1009 Zverev uses the pro-stock version of the Gravity Pro which was designed with his input. HEAD has a convoluted system of engineering codes that designate their racquets, whether pro-stock or retail. Obviously far more pro-stock codes exist than retail ones due to the many variations for different pros. Eg:
TGK344 - Retail Gravity Pro
TGT344.3 - Zverev pro-stock variant with a slightly different 18x20 drill pattern
TGT344.1 - Barty pro-stock variant with 16x19 drill pattern
What’s good to note is that all TGT334 and TGK334 have the same mold and layup, and come off the same production line in China. There’s no conspiracy that the TGK334 is some sort of cut-rate version just because it’s a retail stick. There’s no need to go hunting for and paying crazy dollars for a pro-stock with magic dust!
@@jerome_morrow Would love to see a review and comparison of the Wilson Pro Labs rackets vs the retail ones.
This is why I buy older rackets from years previous, they always are just as good as their newer counterparts and taking the time to research them can lead you to something perfect for your game for significantly less in cost.
That’s the advice I give to a lot of people asking me which racquet to buy :) thanks for watching sponge man ice cone!
I'll do the same thing 😅😁👍
At rec level, I feel like I can use any racquet, as long as they're not too out of date. After a while you adjust to the new racquet. Pros did the same, like Djokivic switching to Head. It took him longer to adjust because he's at the very top level, but for rec players, you can adjust in just a set. I played with the Wison Prostaff 6.1 for the longest time, but it got too heavy for me as I aged. Switching to Head radical MP and adding a bit of weight is no problem at all. I paid $100 for older model.
Smart, way to save! Nothing wrong with a bit older model
Rublev's racket is blacked out because he actually switched to the Head Gravity Pro pro stock some time in 2020; notice the teardrop head shape of the racket. He just can't endorse the racket until Head sponsors him.
Also, Zverev actually uses a Gravity Pro (pro stock + customization). The head shape and mold are very similar to the IG Speed MP he used before, but he switched sometime in late 2019 if I'm not mistaken. His rackets have probably been customized to his spec by altering the weight in the layup because I don't think you can visibly see any lead on them like before.
Medvedev is a strange one. He endorses the 305g TFight models, but he really uses a TFight Dynacore 305g from 2015, back when they were 95 sq in rackets. His is customized up to around 360 grams, so he's definitely got a hammer; very similar racket to what Djokovic uses. Makes sense though; he's got different stroke mechanics than Djokovic but ultimately a pretty similar playstyle.
Thanks for the extra insights Jerry, great comment!
@@MikeKomen No problem, anytime 👍
Exactly what I wanted to say about Rublev and Zverev. Both using the same mold, literally that is how Rublev got into the Gravity which lifted his game. They were practicing together,picked up Sascha’s racket (which was by that time the Gravity which he actually came up with,customized for himself and paintjob and all...) he loved it and was already struggling a bit in his mind about switching and just did that with like 1.5 years still of contract with Wilson. Apparently his contract will run out sometime this year.
@@thepadelpodcast Rublev is using the gravity for sure, but after zverev's gravity flop, I'm pretty sure he is rocking the youtek speed mp.
@@lucahoffmann7259 he never played with the mp. If anything it was the speed pro :) but I doubt he switched back
This has been going on for decades. I remember back in the day Becker rebranded his preferred Puma BB Super with the Estusa logo and after he parted with Estusa, he took the same mold to Head where they released it under his own branding.
Yeah, or Borg playing paintjob rackets because of a different endorsement for the US..
This man is very good professional explainer of specific racquets :) his place is in Tennis Warehouse :)
Looking to be better than tennis warehouse lol. They’re job is to sell racquets so how can anyone fully trust their reviews? (that’s why I started my channel) I just bring my honest opinion of all racquets and tennis topics with no other motives. Thanks for watching!
I've always assumed that most tennis players understand what a paintjob is.
If anything this is good for rec players to know that they don’t need the newest rackets with the “best technology,” since if there were any big differences the pros would switch to the newest models. Great vids!
Exactly right! Find what works for you and like the saying goes: If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Thanks for watching!
The pro like their old habits, many pro don’t want to try something new(not all) and it’s very hard for them to find the time to try different rackets
That’s right and even small changes in their gear can have a big effect on their game. Last thing you want at that level is to be thinking about your racquet while battling for a title.
This is true but also somewhat misleading. Take Tsitsipas for example. He's using the 2013 version of the blade in 2021. But that's still a brand new, made in 2021 racket, just from the 2013 mold.
I see tons of rec players sticking to old rackets and saying "well the pros don't really switch rackets, they just paint the old ones to look like the new ones" in order to justify not upgrading. But they're using 2013 rackets in 2021, which albeit subjectively, aren't as good.
Do you really need the 2021 model when you have the 2020 model? No. But would you benefit from the 2021 model after playing with the 2013 model, more often than not, yes.
@@blaynewilson1549 you right
Loved the video Mike!! Keep them coming. And....nice new pillow ;)
Thanks Rob! :)
I respect the amount of research you pit in to make these videos! Thanks!
Thanks for watching and for the kind words Kang!
great video, thanks. I've been curious about pros' racquet weights for a long time (especially Rublev's, haha)
Thanks for watching!
riight, I just switched to a 300g raquet (now Head MP extreme), used to play 315g unstrung (Babolat Drive Pro). For the amateurs watching, careful with the stiffness factor. After 8 years playing injury free, Babolat really destroyed my shoulder joint and also got a tennis elbow as a bonus. Now with Head Extreme I have the pop, the spin but without the stiffness and 300g is enough for me. No problems held. The raquets pro staff with weights above 320g should really be avoided by amateurs because you will get injured FOR SURE.
Thanks for the comment! For sure need to be careful. I’ve even heard suggestions that juniors should be limited to how stiff a racquet they should use to avoid injuries and promote sport longevity.
@@MikeKomen definitely needs to be adapted to the player, no? Loved the feel of Babolat Drive, but definitely didn't love recovering 4 months from a shoulder joint inflamation. Also I have not had a tennis elbow in 9 years (been playing way longer than that but my technique got corrected 9 years ago and since then had no injuries).
Nice vid 👍 Worth noting thiem uses the 18x20 pure strike and Medvedev doesn’t use the xtc 305, it’s the dynacore or possibly even the 2013 Tfight which has a 95 sq inch head.
Love this video mate! So crazy how old some of the racquets they use are!
Tennis players are creatures of habit haha
I'm having Benoit Pair racket and his racket with no specifications on it, only sticker with his name,handle full of silicone inside but the rest looks same,also I asked some pro (from top 100) about their rackets and many having standard versions,for example-Medvedev told me what his racket is not customized.
I play with the IG Prestige MP, 27.60 inches, 375 grams, 386 swingweight. I bought a matched set of four of them in 2010/2011 and have been using them since. The only other frames that I've used are YT Prestige MPs (27.75 inches and similar specs to the IGs), and an RF97 that I playtested. The IG Prestige MP is relatively flexible so pretty good for those with arm issues. It's also considered a low-powered racquet but lead tape adds a lot of power. The main thing is that I've used the same frames for the last ten years - I think that it's easier to improve your frame if you keep variables to a minimum and one of those variables is the frame.
The weight is something important. But the balance of the racquet is relevant. Could you make a vid on that stuff also?
Great Job! Thank you so much for all this unknown information.
Thanks Tony! I’ve got a WTA edition of this topic coming Monday
Funny how this showed up in my feed today. You will probably find this crazy, but while I am currently playing around with the newer Prestige racquets, and have been playing with the Prince Graphite Classic from just a few years ago, my favorite racquet, where I feel like I am basically catching the ball and throwing it wherever I want is the Wilson Graphite Matrix from the 80’s. The “Poor Man’s Pro-Staff” in a way, without the PWS on the side, coming in around 355g., and only an 85 sq in headsize. Wish they still made it and I didn’t have to take chances on eBay....
Subscribed, cool content man 👍
Thanks! I appreciate the support 🙏🏻
Thanks for the great video Mike, you’ve just earned a new sub 🤗
Thanks Sean! I appreciate the support :) lots more videos coming this summer
A few corrections:
1) Schwartzman racket is not custom mold but YT/IG radical MP that was retail. Identical layup to the retail
2) Zverev is indeed using the Gravity Pro (not the Speed). So is Rublev
3) Novak is not using the PT113B (that racket was discontinued in 2019). He is using the PT346.1
Thanks for watching Dan!
Thanks for the knowledge about tennis. Keep going bro
Thanks for the support, will do!!
Why did you miss Tsitsipas and Medvedev racquets weights? Kudos to you! Great content for a tennis video.
I was reading conflicting information about the weight of their racquets so I didn’t want to put it in the video, but I think some people in the comments have found it. Thanks for watching Wladner!
Solid content Man!!!!!!
New Sub:)
Thanks, I appreciate the support! 🙌🏼
very interesting subject. please tell us if the racketweight you are talking of is strung or unstrung!
I believe the weights that I found online were referring to strung weights. Thanks for watching Torsten!
I play with Prince Spectrum Comp 110. I got it 2016. It is great for play. I love it becasue it is old, but one could never tell. It allows me to play all the shots.
Sounds like you found what works for you
I use a Head Pro Lite Tour '98, leaded up to 335 gr strung, and the reason why i play with such an old racquet is that no morden one offers you that unique, solid, consistant feeling, when you just literally percept the ball on the stringbed. Probably that is thanks to twaron, which head used back at those years.
360 grams sounds extremely heavy, it just goes to show how much strength and physical conditioning it takes to be a professional player. I would like if you do a similar video on other players like Wawrinka, Cilic, Nishikori, Raonic, etc. Stan must be using a very heavy racquet to control his shots.
I’ve got a WTA version of the video coming out tomorrow but I’ll make another ATP one as well featuring players I missed here.
Next video for sure! I’ve got the WTA episode coming out later today
I managed to get my hands on an old ultra 2 former top 10 women's player's racquet. It has an inherent weight of about 395 grams. The shelf version was 360 grams. It's such false advertising with these paint jobs. I always respected Sampras' clarity with openly only playing with the St Vincent Prostaff 85.
He did add a ton of lead tape though...
Just get into it!
I just weighed the racket I played with yesterday. 339 grams. I'm in my 70's and not remarkably strong. In my 40's most of my rackets were around 365 grams. I always play with a leather grip + tourna grip and sometimes add lead tape, at the 12 o clock position . I started adjusting frame weight after frustration with my 3 Prince Diablo Mid frames, which all played differently. A lot.
I played a few years with a Wilson T-2000 in the 1970's. I googled its strung weight just now: 385 grams. Seems about right. Head size 67. That was a powerful frame.
Thanks for the comment Stephen! Your comment speaks volumes about the progress and change in the game. The swing style has changed dramatically over time moving from very flat shots with linear swings to topspin shots with loopy swings. The balance and average weights of racquets had to follow to match the modern game. Thanks for watching Stephen!
@@MikeKomen Well explained, and I'm sure you're right, Mike.
You might make a video explaining Shieh Su-Wei's racket mods and how she moves her hands on her racket's grip. A marvel to me.
That’s a great idea! Her technique and shot selections blow my mind 🤯
Hi thank you Mike - how heavy is Tsitsipas and Medvedev Rqts ??
Subscribed. Amazing video. Greetings from Argentina
Thanks! Big hello from Canada 👋🏻🇨🇦🇦🇷
Nice video bro, congrats!
Thanks, I appreciate the support!
I still play using my Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus, and Prince O3 Speedport Black OS from when I was in high-school back in 2007-2011. They're 10+ years old and still going strong.
Good call, will probably be good for another long while as long as you take care of it
Nice video mate, I haven't even been getting any notifications of yours unfortunately lol - wouldn't stress about some of the over the top comments, it ain't even that serious 🤭
Fun fact: As stiff as Pure Strikes are, Dominic uses a stiffer layup than retail
Haha thanks man! No stress, just love for the game 😎 Thiem is an absolute beast!
This is a decent attempt at a rather complex topic; the bottom line is that pros most often are not using the racquet they are endorsing. However, you have a number of errors and inaccuracies. For example, Zverev does indeed use a pro-stock version of the Gravity Pro (TGT344.3). The average tennis fan is not actually that concerned by such minutiae, so your content is still worthwhile and informative.
The other question many fans often like to know is whether their retail racquet is actually a reasonably close version of the pro-stock stick their favourite player is using. In the case of Zverev, the retail Gravity Pro has the same mold and layup as his pro-stock version. The difference is in the weight, balance and swingweight where his specs far exceed that playable by tennis muggles. The 18x20 drill pattern he has is also slightly different from the retail stick, but that’s largely a minor variance.
In the case of Djokovic, well... forget about even getting anything close to his PT346 in the retail market!
Thanks for the extra detail Jerome! That’s why this tennis community is the best! I agree retail rackets have come a long way and as long as you find something that suits your game it’s all good I say. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen Totally! It’s crazy how some people are so fanatical in their search for that magic stick that they are willing to pay huge prices for pro-stock racquets when there are so many good racquets available at retail which are likely a better fit for their game. There really is no conspiracy going on that the pros get the top grade stuff whilst retail gets the dressed up cheap and nasty sticks.
HEAD PT346’s and Wilson H22’s aside, many pro-stock racquets are the same mold and layup of either a current or past retail stick, just customised to the required specs for each particular pro.
And now there is even the option of the Wilson Pro Lab racquets. The blade pro lab I believe is the H22 under a different name.
I just had my Head Microgel OS restrung and it's also an 18/19 string pattern.
Not many frames out there with that pattern
Do you think the new Pure Drive 2021 is good?. I recently purchased it but haven't got to try it. What do you think about the control of Pure Drive? 🥺
I think it’s for sure an improvement over the last one. If you liked any of the old ones you’ll really like this new one. I’ve got a full review of it up on my channel already if you want to check it out!
Mike, you are saying on the vid that Domi is using the 3rd version,but he actually uses the first version the black and red old one repainted. But thanks for the vid,it is a good one :)
Thanks, I appreciate the support!
great insight, new sub, keep up the great work 🤘
Thanks for the support!
Nice compilation. The Gravity has 100 sq in. too ;) just saying
The youngsters may not remember that, but up until the late ‘80s tennis racquets were all heavier than the ones sold today. 355 grams was the standard for most of them. Most people played with them (including women) and they were still able to play. The truth is that the tennis racquet is very important when it comes to reaching your potential in the pro circuit. Every player has requirements for what their racquet should feel like, in order to suit their personal needs. That is not a surprise as people are built differently. Good content in this video!
Thank you and thanks for your comment 😁
Great video! Just curious were those strung weights?
I believe from what I read that they’re all strung weights. Thanks Carlo!
@@MikeKomen Then they are not really that heavy we used to play with 360 g strung rackets as kids. It was the standard in the 90s...
Thank you!
So nice video!!!
Thank you 👊🏻
in one of the tennis tv videos, someone was talking about rublev's forehand and his racquet weighs much less than what you are mentioning. Even I was surprised
Drop a link if you can find it. Everywhere I looked was saying 360g for Rublev. Maybe there was a change with his new racquet??
@@MikeKomen Thanks so much replying. I just can't find that video rn 🙈. But I do remember John milman and Bublik talked about it. But look what I found for you:
ruclips.net/video/KLHatn-Knp8/видео.html
I also have one question, can you explain what advantages does a 18*19 string pattern have?
The racquet Djokovic is playing with is also a little bit longer, approximately 3mm.
Great vid
Thanks! I appreciate it 🙏🏻
Good Video. I love my first generation Wilson Ultra 110 with 18×16 string pattern. This racquet weighs in, strung up, with winking emoji dampner, beer or wine butt cap sticker and pink overgrip at a whopping 280 grams. I hybrid the string and get wicked spin.
Thanks Lisa! As long as you find what you like out of your racquets it’s all good. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen no shame in playing oversized😆
Serena does it!
@@MikeKomen other favorite frames was the SW signature blade 104 and the 300 gram Prince Textreme Warrior 107.
i added 6 grams to my racquet bc i love that "plow through" feeling too!
Awesome! Where did you add it?
@@MikeKomen 9am noon and 3pm positions. I still play with Fed's Ncode 6-1 90sq stick. best racquet ever imho.
I should try to get one for a “hall of fame” edition of racquet reviews
I would like more info on what Roger is using and what he has used throughout he’s career.. maybe a separate video? Is he honest? Or different Raquet?
That’s a great idea for a video. He used an older ProStaff for a few years while repoing the newer models but that changed when the first autograph edition came out.
His current racket is the one he endorse.
I made a whole video just about all of Rogers racquets coming out tomorrow at 3pm!
A couple of ideas to take away from this video. Touring Professionals tend to use modified Pro Stock racquets that are weigh more than stock models. A heavy hammer will drive a nail in with more force if you can swing it. Many touring pros tend to stay with the same racquet for a long time. Recreational players should hit with a racquet that actually fits their skills and fitness level not one that is endorsed by their favorite player.
A heavy racquet can really put lots of stress on your arm and elbow if you’re not in exceptional condition. It requires lots more swing speed and precision to generate pace with a smaller head and string surface.
You nailed it Thomas
What does Berrettini and Fabio use?
the racquet i used which is a Wilson Pro Staff RF97 335g with 10 extra grams, and its heavier than some pros....
Good info. 340 grams is not a heavy racket though. Swing weight is probably more important than static weight too but it is more difficult to get the swing weight of pros as most of the top guys send their rackets to a private matching firm to have them customized to their desired weight, balance and swing weight. Rafa's racket is a fairly light 340 grams but I have seen reports that his swing weight is 355 and he reported went up a little from there a couple of years ago. I've seen reports that Djokovic's swing weight is around 370 too which is toward the high end even for pros. My personal belief is most stock retail rackets are too light and the swing weight is too low.
330-335 is about the limit for me. I’m a pretty fit guy (not as ripped as Rafa lol) but playing consistently at 340 or above is taxing on the arm for the average player. My two cents. Thanks for the comment!
i bought 5 rf97 rackets, they all differ in swingweight, twistweight and weight. Frustating. We pay premium price but cant get 2 that feels the same.
Understandable frustration Joe :( hopefully they are working on getting better with quality control, the pro lab racquets are a good start.
Hey Mike, I currently use the Head speed pro back from 2018. I am a high school player, and sometimes have late contact due to the heaviness of the racket. I was wondering, in your opinion, what would be a good option for me. A racket that has similar specs(stability,control,feel) and that is less heavy but still stable. What do you recommend?
Hey Gregory! First of all thank you for watching! I would recommend you try the Yonex vcore 95 and Dunlop cx200 tour both fell super crisp and swing quick while maintaining great stability. My main racquet is the vcore95 and I’ve been loving it for 2 years now. If you’re making any tennis purchases I kindly ask you to use my link to RacquetGuys. They have great deals and price match and I get a small kickback from the referral link so it helps the channel! Hope that helps
Same here. What I’ve been doing is to try to gain more muscles 😂
💪🏻
First video yourself and make sure you’re turning and preparing at the second the ball is on your opponent’s rqt and coming off - If you’re a little late turning and preparing then you’ll be late hitting and the rqt will really feel heavy !
Djokovic use a mold similar to a Head LiquidMetal Radical with 18x19 string pattern and a bit more longer (27.10).
Gasquet uses an Head Instinct LiquidMetal XL, that is not an Extreme.
Yeah LiquidMetal's racquets were great lol
Nice vid! Any idea about Shapovalov's?
From the looks of the frame, it's a Yonex vcore95 SV probably with some customizations for him. Thanks for watching Jay. Might do an all Canadian edition of this topic in the future, and dig up some more details.
Its actually a yonex Xi the last time I checked. Unless he changed it super recently. Both shapo and Stan were using the same xi model for a long time.
Not seeing Federer on the thumb really breaks my heart. Damn, I’m getting old!
Don't worry Gabriel haha I have two videos just about Fed. One where I ate and trained like him for a day and one all about all the racquets he's used!
Djokovic's racket helps make him "the greatest returner in the world." In his day Andre Agassi was a great returner. How did his racket contribute to that when compared with the rackets of his fellow players?
Agassi’s racquet at the time was a much larger headsize that what almost everyone was using at the time. Definitely helped him have some extra pop and room for error.
@@MikeKomen Thanks, Mike.
"Greatest returner" Ноле делает из себя только сам!! PT346.1 здесь вообще не причем!!🤣🌺🤣
I always assumed players might be using racquets they promote, but heavily customized to meet their needs. It is like that in most other sports.
Might be a stupid question but are you referencing strung or unstrung weights in this vid?
I believe these are all strung weights. Thanks for watching!
At 6’ 200lbs with a decent stroke should I be adding lead tape to my racquet? I use the white and black head youtek from 2012. I think it weighs 265grams. My shot feels very slow compared to how hard I feel like I’m swinging.
Thanks in advance.
Hey CJ! That would be a good option for you in my opinion, you could also test out a heavier frame first like a vcore pro 330g and see how you like it before adding lead to your frame. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen what string pattern would you recommend I’m pretty sure that one very tight which isn’t ideal for power either?
Typically if you’re looking for power and spin 16x19 is the move. 18x20 patterns are more control oriented.
@@MikeKomen thanks for all the help brother
No worries, happy to help!
Boris Becker once said that the some of the players in the 90's used rackets that were over 400g, with Sampras's racket weighing around 460g. That's 3 slices of wheat bread heavier than Novak's. I think more importantly than the weight is the Balance Point.
They have more weight through the top of the frame compared to the retail versions which are all mostly very head light and handle heavy
Mike good video!!, but you forgot to mention Rafa's grip size
Thanks! He's got quite a small grip, pretty sure it's a 4 1/4
@@MikeKomen never understood why America never adopted the more international grip system, 1-5. So much easier to understand.
Good video!
Thanks!
Big brands don't really care too much if you do or don't know, because most pro racquets aren't available from the other brands either.
Nice video!
Thank you!
Nope, Roman Prokes makes ie. Djokovic racquets (352gr not 360) by hand. He says that every frame which comes from the factory is different in weight and balance. He needs to balance them by hand one at a time. One racquet takes 3 hours.
I don’t doubt it, I’m sure for someone at his level there is extra attention paid to the racquet
@@MikeKomen Sorry Djoco is 327 only. Check this out... ruclips.net/video/eTj-labBKtg/видео.html
@@MikeKomen and this ruclips.net/video/4sRSqSupzyM/видео.html
Herman used a Wilson Prostaff throughout his career. Similar to Sampras and Federer. Slazenger simply painted the rackets
Are these weights unstrung or with strings?
I believe these are strung* weights
One of your best vids bud 👌🏼
Thanks Cody!
Can you tell how many players use Xtra length racquet plz
Not a lot as far as I know. Djokovic 27.25" since returning from the elbow injury, Schwartzman 28.00", Monfils 27.50", Isner 27.50". It says a lot that there is little to be gained at the top level compared to the standard 27.00". I'll edit this to include Gasquet 27.5".
Thanks for finding and posting that info Dusty!
Is the weight with or without string?
I believe it’s unstrung
I have a Wilson pro staff rf edition I have added lead to the head as it’s so light only issue is it weighs in at 365 grams what’s the issues with this?
No issue whatever feels comfortable for you is the way to go!
You could try rebar and concrete in the handle
😂
340 grams strung or unstrung. And also what about the swingweight which is more important.
I believe these are strung weights. I couldn’t find enough info on swingweight. As for what’s more important it’s all about personal preference and what you’re looking to get out of the frame.
I found a 17grams difference between my two blades!!!
Classic Wilson quality control story lol
Thanks man!!! Can you even be more awesome?? Love your videos and reviews!!! Thanks for all your help and kindness
Haha always too kind Nathan! I appreciate all your support!
Very useful
Thanks for watching! Will have to make an update to this video since many players have a new racquet now
I think Richie still uses Head Liquidmetal
Anyone in the top 100 using the good old PT57A?
Love this topic! A lot of pro stocks will come in a very light spec as well. Manufacturers may produce bare hair pins at around 300g to allow the customizer extra room to play with.
Great insight! That’s why the Wilson Pro Labs racquets are on the lighter side as well for the average consumer to customize to their liking. The Pro Labs racquets are a great option for people looking to get the “pro stock” experience. Thanks for watching!
What's the head size used by zverev? Looks like most flat type big gotta hitters using 95
Some commenters let me know that Zverev did in fact switch to the gravity pro frame. If that’s the case it’s a 100.
@@MikeKomen wow a pro hitting with a 100 in ATP especially his style seems unique.
I think Djokovic also has a slight lengh added. Like 27.1 inch or something small but it's slightly longer. This was added like 6 years ago or something. Wasn't always like this.
Thanks for the added info!
sweet VID
Thanks!
Not all heroes wear capes
It would have been nice to get the SW’s also.
I just added what I could find. I didn’t see the swing weights posted for many of these so I didn’t add it. If you find more info on sw online please add it here, it would be super helpful!
usually around 340, Tsitsipas and others next gen a bit lower
I do laugh when Tenniswarehouse 'review' their stock of rackets.
"This racket [insert from below]
-is Solid
-gives a super Plush feeling
-Generates great power (racket not player)
-Feels super smooth on contact..
-is a 'player's' racket..
-Is really good for angles..
-has great whip (!! Wtf)
-has great plow through
-is super stable
-is really sharp with volleys 🤔,
-great carving through the ball/court.
-makes me real like I can dominate the court (only if I'm better than the opponent that is)
-gives me the 'security' the crush the ball
-give me the confidence to go for the lines.
- gives great 'feel' (yep the racket has synapses now'
-means I always hit good length..
"Also the racket incorporates the newest 'technology' that the marketing department came up with..
To name a few.."
Ampifeel..
Basalt matrix,
Youtek,
Graphene,
FST- fast speed technology,
Woofer system, (I kid you not)
Cortex system,
Isometric frame,
360+ technology (wait what!!!),
All bullshit designed for you to make an impulse buy..
You forgot the ol' "right up _____'s wheelhouse"
Could you do the WTA?
Coming soon!
WTA video up now!
Are you talking unstrung weight or total (strung) weight when you're saying the weight of the pro's racquets?
I believe these were strung weights. Thanks for watching!
It's a very big difference if the string weights aprox 15gr and the overgrip 6-8gr.
Not sure what to believe, tennis nerd blog says Medvedev is using 95 frame.
Didn’t Rublev used to endorse the wilson burn?
How much does Medvedev`s racquet weigh?
Hey, how about Roger Federer's racquet? Do you have any information on that?
Fed uses the ProStaff RF with some personal touches on it. He wasn't in the video since this one was focused on players at this year's AO. Thanks for watching!
@@MikeKomen Yeah, I know this video is AO only. However I would like to know more about Roger's player issued racquet. Probably a lot of people does as well :) If you can make a video about that in the future that would be great! Loving the content!
Thanks! Will do! Working on one for top WTA at the moment but will make another one for ATP players that weren’t featured in this edition
Fed’s racquet is probably closer to retail stock than anyone else’s in the top 10. It makes sense, Wilson designed the mold just for him when he was trying out new prototypes back in 2013-2014. His personal racquets are probably made for him with a tighter tolerance on weight and balance than retail units. Priority One is the company that customizes his racquet for him. His grip seems custom, slightly rounder than stock, and the buttcap isn’t as flared. A small amount of lead tape is added in the upper hoop under the guard. His racquets are strung with 3 leather power pads at the 6 o’clock position, along with string savers just above the center of the string bed. I don’t think he has any lead tape or silicone in the handle. He strings with natural gut in the mains and Luxilon Alu Power Rough in the cross.
Keep in mind that this is the longest break from the tour that he’s ever had in his career, and may return with a slightly different setup since he’s had time to play around with specs.
I made a whole video about all the racquets Fed has endorsed and used. Dropping tomorrow at 3pm!
Head TGT is not enough...that's like saying he uses a radical..yeah which one ? There are many TGTs XL just means extended
Thanks for the update! I just spoke about what I found while reading. Please let us know if you know or find more info!
Need a update wit kyrgios and Alcarez lol
I’ll make an update to this video in the coming weeks with the top 10 for end of 2022 season. Should be fun! Thanks for watching Erocko!
what kind of balance are pro racquets?
The WTA I found mostly has headheavier racquets while ATP players tend to favour head light racquets. Varies by player though
What advantages does a 1pt HL racquet have over a racquet with a 6pt HL balance point?
Thanks.
Great video by the way.
The more head light it is means that more of the weight is towards the handle while the lower the number the more weight that is distributed towards the top. A handle heavy racquet will usually be easier to create racquet head speed while a frame that is more head heavy will transfer more force to the ball buy may be harder to generate racquet head speed on the swing.
@@MikeKomen Is the balance point a factor of the weight of the frame? Can a 340g and a 305g racquet both have the same balance point?
They can just depends how the weight is distributed in the frame
There is no way that Medvedev is swinging a 305!!!it's crazy to think that if somebody stole his rackets he could just roll up to the local sports store and buy some new ones. The last time I heard a player doing that it was Arthur Ashe and Federer of course
A few people corrected in the comments that he’s using an older technifibre racquet. Tough to find the accurate info for some players. Thanks for watching!