Dont forget that tour is 18x20 and mp is 16x20 so strung SW will be still higher on tour version. I played customized gravity tour to unstrung specs 317grams, 31,4 balance and 298 SW it was good, played with it 2years. After this i sold them and bought few new rackets, all new was worse as my old tours. So i decide switch back directly to gravity pro and i love tennis again :D
One tip I learned by accident: when playtesting different swingweights, use regular ol' racket head protection tape. It's cheap and you can easily add or peel off a bit during a hitting session. Once you find the weight that works, head back home, take it off, measure it, and replace it with tungsten strips or whatever weight solution that is more durable and not as ugly.
You can also use non toxic, non hardening clay under butt cap depending on brand of racket to give a more headlight feel and then add lead to hoop…if you don’t want leather grip or both…thx for the vids 🤙🏼 not hating on leather grips
Just the video i was looking for. Just bought a 2023 gravity tour and feel swingweight is a little low for my 1 hander. Will put a leather grip and overgrip on and maybe 5 grams of lead just above 3 and 9 on the head.
I am interested in using lead at the handle of Ezone 98. How much lead and should i put tungsten puddy in the handle or use lead tape horrizontally circularly at the base of the grip or vertically up the 4 bevels?
Do you have the written instructions of were and how much lead you added to bring the gravity mp to thd tour specs .. also the leather grip you are using and as a one handed how headlight the final result is
I’d love to know if you recommend customisation for a VCore 95 2023. Love almost everything about it but when playing against people who hit big it feels a bit unstable, especially on RoS
Hi there Luca, amazing video, thanks for all the quality content!!. Would you rather play a gravity tour with a leader grip to increase stability or the gravity pro?
At this point, the Gravity Pro, but for a while I played Gravity Tour + Leather grip instead of Gravity Pro because the swingweight was more manageable.
I started playing last year at age 60 and look to be in my mid 40’s! I wanted an arm friendly racquet. I did not want to spend too much on a Wilson clash. I ended up getting a Wilson blade team 99 which was 285 grams, but 305 grams with factory strings. Paid $75 new. I added a Wilson leather grip to feel the bevels better. Great racquet for the price!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Today I decided to add lead tape to my Wilson blade team 99. I added it at noon, 3 and 9 o’clock. I noticed more power on my serves. Did not get to play yet, only practiced serving.
Bought a gravity mp after trying my friends for 2 weeks. The only thing i felt it was too light. Didn’t want a 18x20 version. Added 4 grams at 3&9 and a leather grip. The racket got a great feeling the forehands turned in monster shots. The pop on the serve was amazing. Wont recommend it for recreational players cause the strung weight came to 337 but as in itf player this racket is a huge upgrade for my game
Despite not having a constant beam. The PSVS needs customization. I ended uo matching mines at 330g strung, 31.5cm unstrung, 328sw strung. Playing with pro's pro plus power at 22/21kg. Feel like a sniper
Hi, nice video! What do you think customizing a Pure Aero 100 2023 with a leather grip? Just like the stick a lot except for the one handed backhand where I feel the racket less maneuverable. Could it be the thick beam or the balance? Thanks a lot for the answer 😎
The issue you're having with the Aero 100 is that for a one handed backhand, the frame is not actually very aerodynamic. It's shaped in a way where, when it's parallel to the ground, it is very fast but that means that when it's perpendicular, it catches the air and actually feels more sluggish than most rackets. A leather grip won't change that unfortunately.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver thanks a lot. I’m finding the Blade 98 16x19 a lot more natural on this shot. Would a leather grip make it even better? Thanks 🙏🏻
Head Speed MP, Ive tried to put 4g on 3 an 9 and it was stable things up, But! I'n changing the wiping and head speed of the racket to mutch Mainly the Backend and Slice shoots where more solid and stable, all else i was too heavy for me and late especially after playing a while I think your suggestion for 6 and only with 2-3 g will be a sweet spot as this only need the static wight and not a mass with the head and total wight a lot. (unless you are a pro and then you probably with the Pro version (: )
What do you recommend for Vcore 98? I added 2g weight at 12 and 9/3 each - one day it felt great for dubs. Played a match for points the next day for singles and don’t know if it was an off day but couldn’t control it at all. Either way felt it was heavy for fast volleys and thinking of backing off some weight. Any recommendations? Thinking of a leather grip which I really liked on my Tfight.
Can you let me know with that customization that you did to ezone 98 what is swing weight at the end. And what is your static weight before strings or strung with leather grip and and that lead tape you added at 10 and 2 at the end. Thank you in advance . I have same racquet and already have put lead tape at same position around 5 grams total plus about 8 grams at the handle with different grip as I dont like yonex original grip.
Hi there Luca, awesome video as always!!!! I have a bunch of questions regarding customization of the speed MP: 1. Would you go the same way with the new auxetic 2.0, bcos i understand from your review that the swingweight in the new one is higher than the previous one so maybe just the leather grip will do just fine? 2. If not, how many grams of lead would you use at the 6 position? 3. Do you place the lead in one side of the frame? I cant really tell from the images if you placed it both sides of the strings Thank you very much in advance and greetings from Spain
Hello Lucas, I want to move away from my pure drive. The two frame i tested and liked are the blade 100 and the t fight 300. Fell in love with the blade, but its non-spin friendlyness is kind of a deal breaker for me, and also a heart breaker 😢. Can customization really make it more spin friendly ?
Thanks for an amazing video! As a Gravity MP&Tour owner, this video helped me a lot. I really like MP as it is slightly top heavy. It is not, however, as stable as Tour, and I tried lead on MP in 3 and 9 o’clock positions, but it became too head heavy for me…would a leather grip be a solution, or will it become too top light then…?
Thank you! A leather grip would be a great solution, with the lead at 3 & 9 it will bring the balance back down, so that could be perfect. You can also try the lead in the throat like I did in this video which will not change the balance very much, boost stability A LOT and basically make it into a Gravity Tour with a 16x20 string pattern.
Hey Luca! I Had my first sessions with the ezone 98 and besides the really low SW, I thought it’s unstable a little bit too much when off center shots. Does the 10 and 2 lead tape help on this or should we put some on the throat?
I loved my Vcore pro 100, but it was unstable and I wanted to get more plow through and stability for when I play against hard hitters. After some customization testing, I found my sweet spot of simply just adding 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 o’clock. Last week I tried the new Percept 100 and 100D and I fell in love with the 100D. Played with it 5 days, singles, doubles, hitting, and decided to go for it. I though the 100 was extremely similar to my vcore pro, and the 100D gave me some additional control on flatter shots that I was looking for. However, as I sometimes play with some big hitters, I struggled a bit to return and to volley with it, with that said, some customization was needed. I added the same 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 on the Percept 100Dand the improvement on returns and volleys were instant. However, I missed something I was enjoying a lot on the percept, which was the ease to swing and create spin. My question for you is, do you think that maybe lowering those 3.5 grams to 2 or 2.5 is worth a go? Or is just such a small weight that it will barely make a difference? What do you think about counter balancing on the butcap? Would that fix my “balance issue” Let me know what you think I really appreciate all your content;
First of all, I don't think adding weight to the buttcap will help. Yes, you'll counter-balance the difference but you'll also obviously be making it heavier which won't help you swing it easier. You definitely can lower those 3.5 to 2 grams. A minor tweak like that can actually make a big difference so give it a shot!
I play with a Speed MP 360+ . I had removed the original grip with 2 overgrips only which gives a smaller grip size, but I think I'm losing maneuverability. If I put 1 overgrip over the original grip, the grip size is just too big. I am now trying 3 overgrips over the bare handle. Curious your thoughts.
I think the best solution is to throw on a Wilson Feather Thin replacement grip, it'll lower it about 3/4 of a size. If that still isn't enough, you can pallet swap Head rackets, you just need to find a smaller pallet but they're not too difficult to come by.
Hello, I have a gravity mp 2021 and feel it’s too unstable when returning a serve or hitting the ball overall. I think it needs more weight on the head but can’t decide exactly where is more convenient. Should I start by following your customization or by adding weight to 3 & 9 o’clock ? Thank you so much for your videos.
If you want more stability, start by adding weight in the handle. If a leather grip isn't something for you go for lead strips. If it still isn't stable enough, add some at 3 and 9.
Hi Luca. Would this advice change for a one handed backhand player? My instinct is to customize 10 and 2. Would you still say 3 and 9? Cheers as always.
Hawk Touch at 62 pounds! Just kidding, although if you really want to give it the Sinner treatment that's what you've gotta do... I would still say put the lead at 6 o'clock, but if you really want to get some of that effortless looking power that Sinner has, go for it at 12... No guarantees you'll play like him though 😅
Great video... I was disappointed you never mentioned the Pure Strike VS. Any thoughts about customization? It comes with leather but needs lead in the hoop..
To be honest, we're nearly sold out of them so I can't really mention it, but it's probably the #1 racket that goes from totally unplayable to playing like an absolute beast with customization. It does need A LOT of it though.
55 pounds would be high but still definitely playable! With the extra mass it'll play softer as you would expect. In terms of string, I always go Poly Tour Pro 16L but try something a little stiffer with more spin; could be really good!
@@sebwyllemanI have been playing great with the Ezone 98, but playing consistently has given me some wrist pain. This is too bad since I really like the racquet. I have tried different strings and low tensions as well. Currently looking for a new frame.
Hey, can anoyne tell me what basis grip HEAD has been using and what thickness it is. Is there any leather grip out there which does not make the grip size smaller. I am using L3 for my Head Gravity Tour 2023 and thinking of a switch to leather grip without having a smaller grip size as a result. Can you recommend me a leather grip which meets my requirements? Many thanks in advance! :D
I actually think the Head Leather Tour is pretty similar to the thickness of the base Hydrobsorb pro they use on their rackets so I wouldn't worry too much.
Forgive me if it’s a silly question but are you supposed to put an overgrip on top of the leather grip? In my opinion the leather grip looks amazing but maybe lacks grip.
Hey luca love your content! I hate to ask a question as you have so many but how do youbfeel about adding a lesther grip to the new pure aero 100sq. Thanks in advance
I actually don't add leather grips to 100 square inch Power/Spin rackets. For some reason I always feel they play better with their stock balance and that lighter weight is part of what makes them perform well.
Grreat video, great explanation! You made us wiser and thank you! As i owner of gravity mp and tour i will try your advice exactly as in your video. ( I arleady tried and added lead at 3 and 9, it became more stable but it become not easy maneuvering. So after your video i can realise that i increased singweight enormous high) Do you think that i will have much different comparing to your actions (taken after measuring yours) to my mp without measuring my weight and swingweight?
Well, your machine (Wilson tune pro) is AMAZING! I finally customized my MP as you did (and i did it exactly the same weight as my tour,, both are 328) and during my play i could tell which is what. What a match! The feeling was the same, the swingweight the same, but in frehand the ball was rotating much more and easily. (my backhand is flat anyway)
Thank you! Another great racket to customize. A bit of weight in the handle will do it wonders (leather grip) and maybe even a bit of swing weight at 12:00
@@iSaiTek they were kidding lol Start leather grip and 2g on 12 oclock. Then eventually can add a bit more weight on 3&9 - 1g each side. That would give 10-15g of extra weight. Thats a lot and should be enough tho.
The Radical MP is one of the only 300 gram 98s that I think plays great stock but it also can do with some weight. Leather grip and maybe a tiny boost in swing weight, but mainly weight in the handle.
What mods should I put on the Vcore 98 2023, or does it need any? Initially, I was thinking about putting some lead on 12 to get more follow-through weight, but after seeing you did the 10& 2 and the leather grip combo sounds interesting. What do you think?
I really don't think the new 98 needs lead at any wide points in the hoop. It's already so stable and with that teardrop shape adding it at 10/2 is going to overdo it for me. Only add weight if you want a target swing weight, and if that's what you're going for, do it at 12 since it will have the least effect on any playability other than SW. I actually don't think the VCORE 98 needs a leather grip like the EZONE but it will boost that stability even more.
I'm playing with both right now and they are quite similar given that the blade 18x20 needed customization to match the gravity's static weight. But the gravity I would say is slightly more forgiving
Think of the Gravity Pro as a more forgiving but not as manoeuvrable Blade 18x20. You will be very happy with either. I also think the Gravity has a slightly better feel. I have no news on the Blade v9.
Do you play competitively? If so, have you played matches with either? When casually hitting, I enjoyed the Head Gravity Pro more than the Blade V8 18x20 - quite a bit. Yet, when I tested these racquets in match play, the Blade V8 easily outperformed the others, including the Gravity Pro. I thought maybe I had an off day with Gravity Pro and perhaps an on day with the Blade V8 18x20, but my results were the same after multiple matches. Not sure why, but it is what it is. Note, in my testing the Blade V8 18x20, I placed a couple of grams of lead at 12 and also several grams of magnesium putty in the Butt cap. To me, this polarized setup improved the feel, but also enhanced serving by quite a bit.
@@gholland75 1 gram at the top, 4 grams on 3 and 9, 2 grams at the throat and 6 grams under the grip. I prefer to use tour bite 1.25 because I bought a reel and broke strings alot, but since using 18x20 string patterns I hardly break strings, therefore I think 1.20 should perform better.
Thank you! The Radical MP is also great for customization. I do think it plays great stock (which is surprising for a 300 gram 98), but it will do really well with weight in the handle. The swing weight is already competitive, but you definitely can add a bit of weight in the hoop too.
you should make a video on rackets that play well in stock form! i personally play with head speed pro in stock form and it feels great! what's your favorite brand leather grip to use?
I like the idea but, to be honest, MOST rackets play so well in stock form it would kind of be a huge list. Or it would just be a list of rackets that I don't put a leather grip on when I try them 🙈 (the Speed Pro is one of those)
100% agree with the Blade 18x20 reco - although I did some tungsten in the butt cap and and 12, 328 strung is a happy medium. Dont your hands blister with leather? I want to like it, just can never get used to it!
They'll blister the first 2-3 times you play with it but then you'll develop callouses and it will never happen again. It is a frustrating week though waiting for it all to heal, and if you ever go an extended period of time without playing, you'll have to go through the process again.
Most people who were raised on wooden racquets and leather grips in the 70s and 80s won’t use leather grips today. Too harsh vs modern synthetic grips, and we had our fill of them for years! 9:57 Please split your lead strip in half and stay off the mid-axis string space. The way you’ve done that, the lead will get dislodged by the 1200 hoop mount during stringing. Do you customise for money? If so, you need to up your game. Especially if you’re going to be using a $7000 machine. Your techniques of customisation are just about passable, and thankfully no where slap dash like Harry on Tennis Spin. For some beautifully accomplished racquet customisation technique, see AM Stringing.
Better yet, put it under the bumper! That's what we'll do if it's for a customer, but for my own personal racket I don't care much about smushing the lead when I string as it does nothing to the playability, just the aesthetics.
The guy that hits closer to the camera has his left foot 90 % of the time floating 😂 Very weird technique and fundamentals to hit the ball. I know the video is not about that but caught my attention. Probably no need to show someone hitting when is about customizing racquets right?
Dont forget that tour is 18x20 and mp is 16x20 so strung SW will be still higher on tour version. I played customized gravity tour to unstrung specs 317grams, 31,4 balance and 298 SW it was good, played with it 2years. After this i sold them and bought few new rackets, all new was worse as my old tours. So i decide switch back directly to gravity pro and i love tennis again :D
That's just some world class video right there. You just got yourself a fan in Brazil, thanks so much for the technical and accurate content
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed!
One tip I learned by accident: when playtesting different swingweights, use regular ol' racket head protection tape. It's cheap and you can easily add or peel off a bit during a hitting session. Once you find the weight that works, head back home, take it off, measure it, and replace it with tungsten strips or whatever weight solution that is more durable and not as ugly.
I like that system! Mine is what I've dubbed "the dampener method". I take dampeners and stick them at 12,6,9,3,10,2 until I find what I like.
absolutely agree on the blade. been playing with that setup for a year now and it’s been great.
How much lead did you add? And only at 12oclock?
2 grams at 12, 8 in the handle
@christianbuechi4555 and now how much is the swing weight of your racket?
You can also use non toxic, non hardening clay under butt cap depending on brand of racket to give a more headlight feel and then add lead to hoop…if you don’t want leather grip or both…thx for the vids 🤙🏼 not hating on leather grips
What do you do for yonex percept 97? Video please!
Every time I get a new racquet the first thing I do is put a leather grip.
Why?
@jerome_morrow I like the feeling, and the balance away from the head.
@@gab_ale Do you use leather with an overgrip? If so, doesn’t the overgrip negate the feel of the leather?
@@jerome_morrow It has less cushioning even with an overgrip.
do you put it over the stock grip? Or remove it and put it on? Also do you put an overgrip over it?
Just the video i was looking for. Just bought a 2023 gravity tour and feel swingweight is a little low for my 1 hander. Will put a leather grip and overgrip on and maybe 5 grams of lead just above 3 and 9 on the head.
That mountain view on your courts is priceless!
Can't tell you how lucky we are to live in Vancouver!
Extremely cool machine, but unfortunately I don't have the necessary small change. More of this content please ! thx
I am interested in using lead at the handle of Ezone 98. How much lead and should i put tungsten puddy in the handle or use lead tape horrizontally circularly at the base of the grip or vertically up the 4 bevels?
Do you have the written instructions of were and how much lead you added to bring the gravity mp to thd tour specs .. also the leather grip you are using and as a one handed how headlight the final result is
racketsandrunners.ca/blogs/tennis/these-are-the-rackets-you-should-customize?_pos=1&_sid=4e44fb0e9&_ss=r
Check out that article for the written stuff!
I’d love to know if you recommend customisation for a VCore 95 2023. Love almost everything about it but when playing against people who hit big it feels a bit unstable, especially on RoS
The perfect customization for that racket is weight at 3 and 9, add about 6 inches times 4 and you're good!
Do you recomend using a leather grip for a pure aero98 2032 also?
I think a leather grip is perfect for that racket as it stabilizes it just enough without making it too clunky.
What Leather grips do you like?, i used the WIlson leather grip and it felt like crap..
How many grams of lead tape do you put at the 6pm position on the Head Speed Mp?
Got my head Tour leather grip on & at around 324.
Between 2-3 grams.
Hi. How would you customize the New speed mp v2 ?
You matches the swing weights but what will happen with the diff string patterns?? Won’t the 18x20 still have a heavier swing weight.
If you match them taking that into consideration then no, but yes, more strings will mean more mass and therefore more swing weight.
Is leather grip used as overgrip or base grip which needs an overgrip?
It's a base grip that requires an overgrip.
Can I use multiple overgrips as a substitute for leather grip?
Hi there Luca, amazing video, thanks for all the quality content!!.
Would you rather play a gravity tour with a leader grip to increase stability or the gravity pro?
At this point, the Gravity Pro, but for a while I played Gravity Tour + Leather grip instead of Gravity Pro because the swingweight was more manageable.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouverawesome, thank you so much for your response
I started playing last year at age 60 and look to be in my mid 40’s! I wanted an arm friendly racquet. I did not want to spend too much on a Wilson clash. I ended up getting a Wilson blade team 99 which was 285 grams, but 305 grams with factory strings. Paid $75 new. I added a Wilson leather grip to feel the bevels better. Great racquet for the price!
Yes, unfortunately.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Today I decided to add lead tape to my Wilson blade team 99. I added it at noon, 3 and 9 o’clock. I noticed more power on my serves. Did not get to play yet, only practiced serving.
After seeing this video, I added a leather grip on my Blade V8, surprisingly felt better to swing and in hand with a Solinco heavenly overgrip
How much does it cost to use that machine in store to match a pair of rackets?
What is the best option to customise Head Radical Mp 2021. ,300gr ? Thank you...
A leather grip is all I do to it!
Bought a gravity mp after trying my friends for 2 weeks. The only thing i felt it was too light. Didn’t want a 18x20 version. Added 4 grams at 3&9 and a leather grip. The racket got a great feeling the forehands turned in monster shots. The pop on the serve was amazing. Wont recommend it for recreational players cause the strung weight came to 337 but as in itf player this racket is a huge upgrade for my game
Despite not having a constant beam. The PSVS needs customization. I ended uo matching mines at 330g strung, 31.5cm unstrung, 328sw strung. Playing with pro's pro plus power at 22/21kg. Feel like a sniper
Hi! How would you costumize a Head Extreme tour 2022?
I add a bit of lead in the throat and at 3 & 9 o'clock!
Hi bro I've bought the tour 2021 same as yours, can you also tell us how do you modify it? Would be really helpful. Thanka!
I just added a bit of lead at 12 and a leather grip!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver thanks!
You should turn the Yonex Ezone 100 SL into the Yonex Ezone 100! Nice video by the way!
How much lead do you add to the ezone? (In grams)
What leather grip do you like? So many to choose from?
Hi, nice video! What do you think customizing a Pure Aero 100 2023 with a leather grip? Just like the stick a lot except for the one handed backhand where I feel the racket less maneuverable. Could it be the thick beam or the balance? Thanks a lot for the answer 😎
The issue you're having with the Aero 100 is that for a one handed backhand, the frame is not actually very aerodynamic. It's shaped in a way where, when it's parallel to the ground, it is very fast but that means that when it's perpendicular, it catches the air and actually feels more sluggish than most rackets. A leather grip won't change that unfortunately.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver thanks a lot. I’m finding the Blade 98 16x19 a lot more natural on this shot. Would a leather grip make it even better? Thanks 🙏🏻
what about pure strike 100 ,how would you have customized it ?i have this racket and i need for stability and more power
I haven't played enough with it to say.
Head Speed MP, Ive tried to put 4g on 3 an 9 and it was stable things up, But! I'n changing the wiping and head speed of the racket to mutch
Mainly the Backend and Slice shoots where more solid and stable, all else i was too heavy for me and late especially after playing a while
I think your suggestion for 6 and only with 2-3 g will be a sweet spot as this only need the static wight and not a mass with the head and total wight a lot. (unless you are a pro and then you probably with the Pro version (: )
What do you recommend for Vcore 98? I added 2g weight at 12 and 9/3 each - one day it felt great for dubs. Played a match for points the next day for singles and don’t know if it was an off day but couldn’t control it at all. Either way felt it was heavy for fast volleys and thinking of backing off some weight. Any recommendations?
Thinking of a leather grip which I really liked on my Tfight.
How much wheight did you add on the top of your blade v8 16x19 shown on the vid?
About 3 grams.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouvercan i add 4 grams?
What about twist weight on the Gravity MP/Tour?
I really wish we could measure twist weight but, unfortunately, that still remains a mystery.
How about making the Gravity TOUR feels like Gravity PRO? Any tips?
It’s not possible because of the difference in beam design. It’ll always feel a little bit mushier.
Can you let me know with that customization that you did to ezone 98 what is swing weight at the end. And what is your static weight before strings or strung with leather grip and and that lead tape you added at 10 and 2 at the end. Thank you in advance . I have same racquet and already have put lead tape at same position around 5 grams total plus about 8 grams at the handle with different grip as I dont like yonex original grip.
Leather grip on the handle and 4 total grams at 10 & 2. 318 unstrung static / 324 strung swingweight.
Hi there Luca, awesome video as always!!!!
I have a bunch of questions regarding customization of the speed MP:
1. Would you go the same way with the new auxetic 2.0, bcos i understand from your review that the swingweight in the new one is higher than the previous one so maybe just the leather grip will do just fine?
2. If not, how many grams of lead would you use at the 6 position?
3. Do you place the lead in one side of the frame? I cant really tell from the images if you placed it both sides of the strings
Thank you very much in advance and greetings from Spain
Hello Lucas, I want to move away from my pure drive. The two frame i tested and liked are the blade 100 and the t fight 300. Fell in love with the blade, but its non-spin friendlyness is kind of a deal breaker for me, and also a heart breaker 😢. Can customization really make it more spin friendly ?
I hope you could post more of the court play videos. Looks like a good, advanced tennis.
Thanks for an amazing video! As a Gravity MP&Tour owner, this video helped me a lot. I really like MP as it is slightly top heavy. It is not, however, as stable as Tour, and I tried lead on MP in 3 and 9 o’clock positions, but it became too head heavy for me…would a leather grip be a solution, or will it become too top light then…?
Thank you! A leather grip would be a great solution, with the lead at 3 & 9 it will bring the balance back down, so that could be perfect. You can also try the lead in the throat like I did in this video which will not change the balance very much, boost stability A LOT and basically make it into a Gravity Tour with a 16x20 string pattern.
Hey Luca! I Had my first sessions with the ezone 98 and besides the really low SW, I thought it’s unstable a little bit too much when off center shots. Does the 10 and 2 lead tape help on this or should we put some on the throat?
Which leather grip would you recommend for the Blade?
Any leather grip is fine!
I loved my Vcore pro 100, but it was unstable and I wanted to get more plow through and stability for when I play against hard hitters. After some customization testing, I found my sweet spot of simply just adding 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 o’clock.
Last week I tried the new Percept 100 and 100D and I fell in love with the 100D. Played with it 5 days, singles, doubles, hitting, and decided to go for it. I though the 100 was extremely similar to my vcore pro, and the 100D gave me some additional control on flatter shots that I was looking for. However, as I sometimes play with some big hitters, I struggled a bit to return and to volley with it, with that said, some customization was needed.
I added the same 3.5 grams at 3 and 9 on the Percept 100Dand the improvement on returns and volleys were instant. However, I missed something I was enjoying a lot on the percept, which was the ease to swing and create spin. My question for you is, do you think that maybe lowering those 3.5 grams to 2 or 2.5 is worth a go? Or is just such a small weight that it will barely make a difference? What do you think about counter balancing on the butcap? Would that fix my “balance issue”
Let me know what you think I really appreciate all your content;
First of all, I don't think adding weight to the buttcap will help. Yes, you'll counter-balance the difference but you'll also obviously be making it heavier which won't help you swing it easier.
You definitely can lower those 3.5 to 2 grams. A minor tweak like that can actually make a big difference so give it a shot!
I play with a Speed MP 360+ . I had removed the original grip with 2 overgrips only which gives a smaller grip size, but I think I'm losing maneuverability. If I put 1 overgrip over the original grip, the grip size is just too big. I am now trying 3 overgrips over the bare handle. Curious your thoughts.
I think the best solution is to throw on a Wilson Feather Thin replacement grip, it'll lower it about 3/4 of a size. If that still isn't enough, you can pallet swap Head rackets, you just need to find a smaller pallet but they're not too difficult to come by.
Hello, I have a gravity mp 2021 and feel it’s too unstable when returning a serve or hitting the ball overall. I think it needs more weight on the head but can’t decide exactly where is more convenient. Should I start by following your customization or by adding weight to 3 & 9 o’clock ? Thank you so much for your videos.
If you want more stability, start by adding weight in the handle. If a leather grip isn't something for you go for lead strips. If it still isn't stable enough, add some at 3 and 9.
Thank you.
Hi Luca. Where and how much lead would you put on the Percept 97. A leather grip strap is certainly useful too. Regards from germany!
I put about 4 inches of lead at the 3&9 o'clock positions (so 4x4)!
Thanks! Which strings and tension do you prefer?
Hi Luca. Would this advice change for a one handed backhand player? My instinct is to customize 10 and 2. Would you still say 3 and 9? Cheers as always.
Do you have any advice for the Wilson shift 300?
Yes, may update this in a while but swingweight around 325; static weight 310 (unstrung).
what were the final specs on the gravity mp with strings?
327 grams static weight / 323 swing weight (with overgrip)
This is a sick machine. Wish somewhere nearby had this available. Do you match customers rackets for them and how much do you charge?
We haven't figured out our pricing system yet, but yes we do!
I want to customize speed mp got just the Leather grip, where to put the lead tape and what strings you think are best for it? I am sinner fan :)
Hawk Touch at 62 pounds! Just kidding, although if you really want to give it the Sinner treatment that's what you've gotta do...
I would still say put the lead at 6 o'clock, but if you really want to get some of that effortless looking power that Sinner has, go for it at 12... No guarantees you'll play like him though 😅
Great video... I was disappointed you never mentioned the Pure Strike VS. Any thoughts about customization? It comes with leather but needs lead in the hoop..
To be honest, we're nearly sold out of them so I can't really mention it, but it's probably the #1 racket that goes from totally unplayable to playing like an absolute beast with customization. It does need A LOT of it though.
Gut feeling says some weight in the hoop would do Percept 100 good. What would you say?
I thought so as well but it became a little launchy for me when I did that. May just not be right for me, though.
Can I ask what string and tension would be most beneficial for the customized Ezone? Would 55 pounds be feel too stiff for this frame? Thanks!
55 pounds would be high but still definitely playable! With the extra mass it'll play softer as you would expect. In terms of string, I always go Poly Tour Pro 16L but try something a little stiffer with more spin; could be really good!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Might be best to demo at a lower tension then. I've heard people been having arm pain from this racket
@@sebwyllemanI have been playing great with the Ezone 98, but playing consistently has given me some wrist pain. This is too bad since I really like the racquet. I have tried different strings and low tensions as well. Currently looking for a new frame.
Awesome vid! On the Ezone 98 would you recommend taking the stock grip out before putting the leather grip? Or just add it on top
Always take the stock grip off when applying a leather grip. It's meant to go directly on the handle.
Hey, can anoyne tell me what basis grip HEAD has been using and what thickness it is. Is there any leather grip out there which does not make the grip size smaller. I am using L3 for my Head Gravity Tour 2023 and thinking of a switch to leather grip without having a smaller grip size as a result. Can you recommend me a leather grip which meets my requirements? Many thanks in advance! :D
I actually think the Head Leather Tour is pretty similar to the thickness of the base Hydrobsorb pro they use on their rackets so I wouldn't worry too much.
29grams*
what about the radical mp?
I don't customize it, although sometimes I throw on a leather grip.
Forgive me if it’s a silly question but are you supposed to put an overgrip on top of the leather grip?
In my opinion the leather grip looks amazing but maybe lacks grip.
Yes, definitely! Your bear hand on leather will be very uncomfortable.
How many grams of lead did you put in the Ezone 98?
About 5 grams at 3 & 9 o'clock.
Hi Luca, on the Speed Mp what will be the difference between putting weight on the throat vs 6pm or 4/8pm !? Thanks 😊. #teamleathergrip
4 & 8 will open up the sweet spot horizontally but at 6 you'll basically just be adding static weight without really affecting anything else!
Hey there! How would you tune the Yonex Ezone 100? Best regards.
Was wondering the same thing, hopefully someone has some insight.
Hey luca love your content! I hate to ask a question as you have so many but how do youbfeel about adding a lesther grip to the new pure aero 100sq. Thanks in advance
I actually don't add leather grips to 100 square inch Power/Spin rackets. For some reason I always feel they play better with their stock balance and that lighter weight is part of what makes them perform well.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver What about Blade 100 V9?????
Grreat video, great explanation!
You made us wiser and thank you!
As i owner of gravity mp and tour i will try your advice exactly as in your video.
( I arleady tried and added lead at 3 and 9, it became more stable but it become not easy maneuvering. So after your video i can realise that i increased singweight enormous high)
Do you think that i will have much different comparing to your actions (taken after measuring yours) to my mp without measuring my weight and swingweight?
Well, your machine (Wilson tune pro) is AMAZING!
I finally customized my MP as you did (and i did it exactly the same weight as my tour,, both are 328) and during my play i could tell which is what. What a match! The feeling was the same, the swingweight the same, but in frehand the ball was rotating much more and easily. (my backhand is flat anyway)
Thank you! I'm glad it worked out for you 😀
What leather grip brand do you recommend? How many lead tape grams did you put on the Ezone 10/2? Thanks!
I always use a Head leather grip. And I added about 4 grams!
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver thanks! What was the resulting static and swing weight?
318 unstrung static / 324 strung swingweight. Very close to the Tour 😅
Cool Video! How would you customize the Radical mp (2021)?
Thank you! Another great racket to customize. A bit of weight in the handle will do it wonders (leather grip) and maybe even a bit of swing weight at 12:00
How many grams do we need to put on the blade 98 ?
It’s up to you really. I would say 0-15. (Don’t put all 15 at 12 o’clock lol).
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver maybe 5-5-5 at 9 12 and 3 o’clock ?
@@iSaiTek they were kidding lol
Start leather grip and 2g on 12 oclock. Then eventually can add a bit more weight on 3&9 - 1g each side. That would give 10-15g of extra weight. Thats a lot and should be enough tho.
@@MiracleAgeGKS thanks man I was a little bit confused with the customisation 😅
Can i do the same, on wilson blade v8 s?
Yes, definitely!
What to do with radical mp?
The Radical MP is one of the only 300 gram 98s that I think plays great stock but it also can do with some weight. Leather grip and maybe a tiny boost in swing weight, but mainly weight in the handle.
What mods should I put on the Vcore 98 2023, or does it need any? Initially, I was thinking about putting some lead on 12 to get more follow-through weight, but after seeing you did the 10& 2 and the leather grip combo sounds interesting. What do you think?
I really don't think the new 98 needs lead at any wide points in the hoop. It's already so stable and with that teardrop shape adding it at 10/2 is going to overdo it for me. Only add weight if you want a target swing weight, and if that's what you're going for, do it at 12 since it will have the least effect on any playability other than SW. I actually don't think the VCORE 98 needs a leather grip like the EZONE but it will boost that stability even more.
Can I ask which brand leather grip you’re using?
Head Leather Tour
I am so confused btw blade 98 18/20 and gravity pro. I spent 3 days analysing but no luck. Also is there a new v9 blade coming this year?
I'm playing with both right now and they are quite similar given that the blade 18x20 needed customization to match the gravity's static weight. But the gravity I would say is slightly more forgiving
Think of the Gravity Pro as a more forgiving but not as manoeuvrable Blade 18x20. You will be very happy with either. I also think the Gravity has a slightly better feel.
I have no news on the Blade v9.
Do you play competitively? If so, have you played matches with either? When casually hitting, I enjoyed the Head Gravity Pro more than the Blade V8 18x20 - quite a bit. Yet, when I tested these racquets in match play, the Blade V8 easily outperformed the others, including the Gravity Pro. I thought maybe I had an off day with Gravity Pro and perhaps an on day with the Blade V8 18x20, but my results were the same after multiple matches. Not sure why, but it is what it is. Note, in my testing the Blade V8 18x20, I placed a couple of grams of lead at 12 and also several grams of magnesium putty in the Butt cap. To me, this polarized setup improved the feel, but also enhanced serving by quite a bit.
@@isaacchan1794 What is your preferred customization for the Blade 18x20? How about strings?
@@gholland75 1 gram at the top, 4 grams on 3 and 9, 2 grams at the throat and 6 grams under the grip. I prefer to use tour bite 1.25 because I bought a reel and broke strings alot, but since using 18x20 string patterns I hardly break strings, therefore I think 1.20 should perform better.
Luca, do you prefer any customizations for the Gravity Pro? I just ordered one from your site :)
Thank you very much! I play with it stock. Any amount of lead or leather grip makes it too heavy for me.
great video Luca! What about the head radical mp?
Thank you! The Radical MP is also great for customization. I do think it plays great stock (which is surprising for a 300 gram 98), but it will do really well with weight in the handle. The swing weight is already competitive, but you definitely can add a bit of weight in the hoop too.
Hi Luca, since you are a leather grip gourmet: What brand do you prefer and why? Thanks in advance for your reply :)
I pretty much only use Head because it's the one we carry, and I love them!
You mean a leather grip OVER the leather stock grip?
you should make a video on rackets that play well in stock form! i personally play with head speed pro in stock form and it feels great!
what's your favorite brand leather grip to use?
Head Speed Pro rules in stock form!
I like the idea but, to be honest, MOST rackets play so well in stock form it would kind of be a huge list. Or it would just be a list of rackets that I don't put a leather grip on when I try them 🙈 (the Speed Pro is one of those)
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver Uh, no they don't. Not anymore. If you are playing against big hitters, modern racquets must be customized. Facts.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver you would customize or put leather on a vcore 98 *23 version?
It should be a little bit higher as the strings will add less because it is a 16x19
What about the Ezone 100?
You can definitely customize it but I don't find it quite as necessary as it plays very well stock.
@@RacketsRunnersVancouver tks!
Ezone 98 Tour feels much better to me than the regular Ezone 98. Didn't need lead for it.
Hi Luca I'm looking to customize my Pure drive 110 and add about 90g of weight to make it play similar to the RF97... any tips?
Try the speed mp please
Use blue tack or clay to preload your weights rather than using lead taking it on and off makes it harder to customise 😅
Speed mp or Gravity mp?
And what about speed pro? Is it good already or need customization?
If you're asking which one I prefer that is a very good question. They are both FANTASTIC rackets.
The Speed Pro is amazing in stock form.
speed MP is ASS, feels very cheap and flimsy.. could just be me though
What is the weight , balance and swingweight on the Ezone 98 after you put the leather grip and lead tape ?
100% agree with the Blade 18x20 reco - although I did some tungsten in the butt cap and and 12, 328 strung is a happy medium. Dont your hands blister with leather? I want to like it, just can never get used to it!
They'll blister the first 2-3 times you play with it but then you'll develop callouses and it will never happen again. It is a frustrating week though waiting for it all to heal, and if you ever go an extended period of time without playing, you'll have to go through the process again.
Every time i see a leather grip, i put leather grip on it to have more leather grip. ❤😂
I like where your head's at.
Most people who were raised on wooden racquets and leather grips in the 70s and 80s won’t use leather grips today. Too harsh vs modern synthetic grips, and we had our fill of them for years!
9:57 Please split your lead strip in half and stay off the mid-axis string space. The way you’ve done that, the lead will get dislodged by the 1200 hoop mount during stringing. Do you customise for money? If so, you need to up your game. Especially if you’re going to be using a $7000 machine.
Your techniques of customisation are just about passable, and thankfully no where slap dash like Harry on Tennis Spin. For some beautifully accomplished racquet customisation technique, see AM Stringing.
Better yet, put it under the bumper! That's what we'll do if it's for a customer, but for my own personal racket I don't care much about smushing the lead when I string as it does nothing to the playability, just the aesthetics.
👏👏👏
The guy that hits closer to the camera has his left foot 90 % of the time floating 😂 Very weird technique and fundamentals to hit the ball. I know the video is not about that but caught my attention. Probably no need to show someone hitting when is about customizing racquets right?
I love the content, would just appreciate less cuts during editing. You sound a bit like a robot with that amount of cuts.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll keep it in mind! Always trying to improve!
the facts on your books are wrong :)
Good video but the canadian accent is a little bit apparent
I'm from Hawaii though 😭
LOL Vegan Leather and Cows. wow what about Beef production Presto you have hide for leather....