Why heavy tennis racquets are not better - Fact or Fiction?
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- čas přidán 11. 04. 2024
- PART 2 is now available here. Apologies for over-editing it, still working on this content creator thing: • Part 2: Are Heavier Ra...
There is a trend in tennis where everyone seems to be adding lead to their racquets and making racquets heavier. If the pros are using heavier racquets, then it must be better and recreational players should be doing the same thing, NOT!.
This trend being promoted is mostly a fallacy and is bad advice for the vast majority of players.
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PART 2 is now available here. Apologies for over-editing it, still working on this content creator thing: czcams.com/video/CeXadtBku2k/video.htmlsi=bTJxmIjhKQCzJdpc
Swing Weight Recommendation Chart: drive.google.com/file/d/1qgnJmiRRxpVOU-ooxP0n7cSyiIFxVvK0/view?usp=sharing
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. No one is suggesting that you should use a racquet that's too heavy to swing. The advice is generally that you should play with as heavy a racquet as you can comfortably swing throughout the course of a match. Oh and Djokovic's racquet has a swingweight of 360, not 330. And I haven't seen anyone advising a rec player to use a racquet with a 360 swingweight.
Yes, Djokovic's SW has been between 360 and 370 for all of his career. Federer, Nadal, Murray, both Williams sisters all had SW over 350. I am not advocating rec players use a SW over 350 but any adult and most good juniors can use a SW of 320 or more.
listen folks why tennis advisers always emphasizing on the Pro players like suoer strong Suoer heroes when most of them cannot curl and bench press weghts as much as a regular gym aficionado tennis players are not muscular nd strong as a construction worker ihave been swinging a 3 pound cutlasssince 9 yrs old and the heaviest tennis raquet us still very light the heaviest raquets were the woodies and metal raquets Ronnie Coleman can swing pound raquet for whole match so stop this concept rateing skinny and Federer as super strong aka bodybuilder get real
@@jeffjeffersons4640nice troll attempt
@@SY-it7xs so you saying like you can keep up with the pro players is that it? you can play 5hours with an audience and a title and money on the line? you train everyday with a coach and trainer and manager? if you dont then you are the troll here thinking you can keep up with the pro players. heavy rackets are not for everybody especially recreational/hobby or even if you are competitive or hate to lose nature kind of person. you dun train everyday, you work a job, you either play with a group of people casually with people of higher ages and women or you play with a group of people that likes the "competitiveness" in some 1 set game. But ultimately, you don't have to stress about anything else or face someone who hits like a pro so why the need for heavy rackets?
@@victorkoh9025 ok to keep it short I never said nor implied I can swing a 340 plus sw plus (pretty average for a top pro) racquet for a 3 set pro match. Fyi i use a 330 to 335 sw racquet and have no problem using it at my intermediate to advance level and i benefit from added stability on the OHBH and heaviness of ball compared to a lower sw racquet while not getting tired in the middle of the match. Bear in mind i have used everything from an ezone 100 to a prestige pro. This makes sense in my case. You are completely missing the point. This guy is putting Ronnie Coleman and tennis players in the same comment. Read that again and tell me I'm the troll. Keep sucking off pro tennis players tho. Everyone who reads that comment will cringe so its better to delete it.
Having to deal with a lot of customers with severe TE problems, I can tell that lighter rackets (especially super light and stiff ones like Teams, LTs ect.) are much bigger evils than the heavy ones. Yes, if you play a ton of tournaments it’s a different thing. Find the racket you can efficiently swing for 3+h. For a club rec player hitting for fun, grabbing the heavier stick is usually a better and safer way to go. That’ll force the player to develop basic kinetic chain mechanics and wouldn’t destroy the elbow.
It's a fair point. In the upcoming "customization" video I want to address some of the problems with the Teams and MP-L's.
@alexsad1000 You are 100% wrong, all rackets for players with tennis elbow are stiffer (around 70 RA), lighweight (250-285 grams), head heavy balance and big head size (100-110sq/inch), and should be used with soft strings. The power of this rackets helps the arm to use less force to hit the ball.
Intuitive Tennis channel has a lots of videos talking about it.
@@rodrigocosta1852 nobody is using soft strings anymore and most folks (with little knowledge) will end up with stiff poly at 55lbs just to match Rafa’s setup. Twisting wiggly stiff and super light racket will be a recipe for disaster for the majority of players. In the end the lower the racket’s mass the less impact on the ball it creates and more vibrations hit your joints. Also with very light racket you forced to swing with tons of spin always and fully/fast otherwise balls will fly to the fence, that’s why players string them super tight . Heavy(ier) frames are exact opposite, you can easily use lower tensions and softer strings and not swing like Alcaraz on every single stroke.
@@alexsad1000 Wrong:
czcams.com/video/KUfpw12Ml7s/video.htmlsi=5HgES0EUh-_hAYdV
@@rodrigocosta1852why not just use the body instead of the arm then? If you are having tennis elbow shouldn't the emphasis be on using your body. Well this should be the case if you have injuries or not. If you use your body correctly as a normal adult with normal adult strength and athleticism, male or female, you would be hitting the ball to the back fence using such a racquet with a multi strung at a low tension (assuming you are trying to protect your arm while using a light stiff racquet). I started using an ezone with multi and I was actually using my body less and arm more (to keep the ball in) and that gave me pain on the outside of my forearm. Well that's my experience anyways which may differ from the majority of people. I think stiff 70RA, thick beamed, large headsize racquets are only meant for seniors and young juniors (not advance or elite), but take that as you. I watch intuitive tennis regularly and am a fan of his content, but I have to disagree with this one even tho I would be far less qualified to talk about tennis. I'm currently enjoying using my prestige pro strung with a poly at 55 lbs and despite the small sweetspot this is the most comfortable setup I have used. This is coming from a person with mild shoulder impingement and golfers elbow.
Some of your data is way off. Djokovic's SW is around 370. There have been pictures of his rackets and he has lead tape down both sides of the frame and at 10 and 2 o'clock under the grommets. Nadal used 370 sw. Federer was 355 SW. Murray was reported as high as SW 400 but went lower later in his career. Williams sisters used extended rackets which increases SW but both had SW 370 for most of their careers. Justine Henin and Kuznetsova had SW 335. The French Tennis Federation published a guideline that SW should be 320 or higher. I think even a petite female adult beginner can use a SW of 320. Look at the simple physics of the game. The ball has a specific weight and it is coming at you with speed and possibly spin. Your racket has to counter the incoming pace and spin at impact. Even a 50 mph ball can cause instability if your SW is too low. My wife and daughter are very petite and used SW in the 320 to 330 range. I've been playing 47 years and my current rackets are 327 SW for 3.5 to 4.0 level. i played many years of 4.5 level when younger and one year of 5.0 level. No tennis player needs a SW below 320. What happens with low SW racket is they fell great when you shadow swing them without hitting a ball. You whip them around and think "oh, this swings so easily". But, they cannot hand the weight of an incoming shot in an actual match and the racket ends up of getting pushed around in matches. I've seen players go to lighter frames with lower SW and their games go downhill.
I noted in previous comments the error when mention Djokovic's swing weight while showing the accurate number in the screenshot. I intended to caption the mistake in the video. To my knowledge that was the only factual error, but I will update the chart to expand the range from Pro level players.
Respectfully, I strongly disagree with your views on swing weights for recreational players. What you can handle when you practice and what is optimal during a match are very different.
I totally agree...
As a player that has played since 8 years old, I strongly agree, for those even at a reasonably good recreational level. The racquet I used when I started weighed 347grams with a SW of 339. I learned to play with it and still use a 335 gram racquet with a SW of 330. Lighter, none the less a hefty SW.
@@TK-Tennis what happens if what you can handle in practice IS optimal for your match? Or are these mutually exclusive? I don't think so.
@@SY-it7xs I'm not sure where you are going with that. A player can always handle a heavier weight racquet when practice rallying versus when playing points, whether that's match play or any point play that simulates match play dynamics.
Totally agree with having a heavy racket for the one hand backhand. I have been playing with lead for nearly 15 years with my EZone 100+ at 400g. The stability is key. Lead at 3 and 9 is key for offcenter stability. Lead in the throat is key over overall racket stability and lead in the handle is key to keeping the balance the same. Volleys are better too as it forces you to use proper technique and eliminates swinging through your volleys. Lead also allows for hitting with a heavier ball your hitting partners will immediately notice.
Great video! Jonas's video has certainly brought a lot of attention on all forms of social media! The two guys did slightly focus more on a static weight increase to gain more momentum through shots but it was not that obvious, naturally you do not want to have a swing weight thats too high to be able to handle with both its power or mobility preventing volleys or swing speed to allow spin generation let alone hindering preparation time. So great care needs to be taken when adding lead tape to the hoop.
I definitely agree with you that the best racquet weight is the one you can managed to play a match with well but with the weight distributed properly.
As a single handed back hand player I had to put as minimal weight in the hoop ( after much trial and error) I needed for return serve and volley stability I settled with, 1.5g at 3 and 9 )'clock position and only 1g at the 12 o'clock position.
But I have put slightly more weight in the handle after counterbalancing it to make it slightly more head light with the balance to keep it whippy.
I use a Yonex Ezone 98, unstrung weight is 305g so thats 9g plus another 20g with strings (gut / poly hybrid)
Thats 334g i could probably add another gram soon in the handle as I have become stronger and my racquet is starting to feel too light.
Depends on your opponent as well, If I'm playing a pusher, I will use 315 grams strung, because I need to generate my own power, If playing a heavy hitter I will use 345 grams strung, because It's more stable, playing doubles, I will use a longer (28 inch) lighter (300g) oversize head racket, because it's easier to maneuver at the net and the bigger head size helps me make more volleys. In my opinion a heavy racket is better for tennis elbow, because a light racket sends more vibration up your arm, plus you have to hold a lighter racket firmer or it will twist in your hand from off centre hits.
Racquet weight goes in far complicated than just static and swing weight. It's not something that one can determine in one night and find a proper weight. As one improves the ground strokes, the changes in swing weight, static weight, size of frame, stiffness, string type, string tension etc all changes. I don't know if anyone can confidently sit down and say what is a proper weight of a racquet for a person. Whenever I test new requests, I buy a set of three or four, and play with different variable with each for at least two or three months before start settling down with a certain combination, that fits my style that was developed over years and years. Finding a right weight is extremely labor and time consuming and that is a reason why I don't change my racquets, once customized, rarely ever unless I have a specific reason or goal for a change.
It truly is highly time consuming and something that requires commitment. What makes it worse is very few people have a process to follow
This is so true, it's taken me nigh on 4 years of trying racquets getting injured and frustrated not really understanding what I needed, your video is excellent in steering people in the right direction and the chart you showed is spot on. @@TK-Tennis
I really highly recommend reading up on what swingweight and twistweight actually is (not as described in the video). Also read up on recoil weight and mgri. I notice that the majority of people advocating for lighter racquets have a lack of knowledge on racquet physics and are going off of anecdotal evidence which do not emcompass the large variety in physical attributes (not talking about tennis ability) in the tennis population. There are plenty of 5.0s using lighter racquets and having success just like how there are 3.5s 4.0s using heavier "pro" racquets and having success. Carlos Alcaraz is using a stock Pure Aero 98 so now everyone using a pure aero 98 but cant hit like alcaraz shouldn't be using one? This tennis elbow pandemic only came about when lighter stiffer racquets and polyesters came about. Polys you can get away with by stringing looser. Back in the 80s and 90s everyone would be using a prestige and prostaff and they had no issue improving or with injuries.
I have a different theory. The tennis elbow issues are most of the times based on wrong technique, trying to be a pro in a year, training wrong, stringing wrong etc. It's almost always about wrong decision making and doing stupid things on/off the court. Rushing things. People like to blaim things, but mostly they should blaim themselves. Everyone has a problem - it's you. And it's you and you only who can solve the problem. Not a new racket, not a new string, but you. If someone eats unhealthy, is fat, whe blaims the food. It's not the food, it's you who makes decision. Guns are ok, people are evil.
@@CzechTennisGuy yes I agree with you. I was only limiting my comment on racquets. Technique, recovery and stringing appropriately comes first as you say. Also I like your videos.
@@SY-it7xs Thank you.
@@SY-it7xs Thank you.
I agree that you should test racquets of varying swing weights to determine what is best for you. The advantage of going to the highest swing weight that you can handle is that it gives you more power so your balls will land deep into the opponents court. There are disadvantages to a racquet that's too light just as there are to racquets that are too heavy. Only testing will tell you what is right for you.
This is a very good topic. Thank you!
As someone who plays with the Head Gravity Pro (SW ~330g) I agree with what you're saying. In match play my bh feels great, but I'm often late and make inconsistent contact on my fh. 4.0-4.5 player
Yep, sounds very familiar. It's such a nice feeling racquet, but it's laggy on forehands and serves, and completely a waste for anyone with a 1-hander.
totally agree with you despite u under so much fire on this topic. People, at least intermediate players, choose a racket hitting a few and buy it, and then it happens when they’re tired or on an off-day. But they bought it already, so they defend the racket to the end of the world to justify that purchase.
It's certainly a touchy topic, and you bring up a good point. Our own egos and purchasing commitments may play a role in it. To be fair to the doubters, I probably would have been in the denial camp a few years ago before really going through the long process of demo'ing and extensive customization before getting to the admittance stage.
Plus, I don't care about trying to be right or acting as an authority. My main objective is to challenge the heavier is better narrative that I believe is more detrimental than helpful for "most" players.
@@TK-Tennis agreed, "most" players or your average player will definitely benefit your advice, don't care about the doubters too much. Maybe all of them people clicked in this video and willing to leave a comment are pros 😂who knows
I have been playing with the Wilson Profile 95 for a while. The Profile 95 is 13ounces and 370 grams, and recently I changed my Racquet to the Babalot Pure drive 110 and that racquet weighs 10 ounces and under 300 grams, I play good with the Babalot and it feels good. Thank you for posting this video my friend.
That's some dramatic shift!
Glad you brought up match play vs practice. If you just want to casually hit, you could swing whatever you like. If you are looking to compete, you're going to want to specifically match something to your game to optimize efficiency, shot consistency and fatigue reduction.
4.0 here playing with a 402g stick with 469sw. 1hbh is one of my strengths.
lol that's just crazy man. I hope it's a joke. it just makes me want to laugh at you
@@caioscofieldno joke.
Your SW chart is a pretty decent reference for those uncertain… I have a OHBH, so I’ve become more concerned about RA.
After demoing up to 25 racquets over the past 6 months, it’s been an interesting observation as many ‘arm friendly’ racquets really aren’t so great when you’re naturally striking with a single handed backhand. Stability and RAs between 59-62, along with static weights between 300-310g have been the specs I tend to lean towards.
As you mentioned, we still need to wield the racquet around a court during match play, so finding the right balance is key
Thanks. The chart has been updated from the one shown in the video. Link in description. Good points on RA's and kudos for using your OHBH as the primary gauge
Even lower intermediate such as top of 3.0 and 3.5 level can hit a relatively fast groundstroke or serve. due the physics of the game such as the weight of the ball the firmness of the ball core, the speed of the incoming ball and the spin on the incoming ball; you need a minimum weight and spin weight to counter those variables. 320 is my minimum SW for all adults to handle the contact impact of the incoming ball. If you go below 320 SW, your racket will not be as stable, it will twist more on off center hits (and, we ALL hit slightly off center a high percentage of the time including ATP and WTA pros), and you will feel more of the impact. My wife and daughter are small petite people and they handle 320 SW comfortably. Anyone can adjust to 320 SW with a little practice and patience.
I think you're generally right about amateurs playing too heavy out of ego. The bigger problem? Poly strings. But that's for another video...
💯combined it's a recipe for TE and potentially life long arm issues.
Stiff poly strings or any poly string with too high of a tension! Soft poly should be about 48 lbs stiff poly e.g. (4g, RPM Blast, Head Lynx Tour) no more than 45lbs! Mono filament polyester can be higher at though at about 50lbs e.g. Luxilon Element or Head Hawk Touch.
@@CH-yp5by I've been playing with poly for ten years. No arm issues and I hit the ball very hard. However, the swing weight and reasonable tension(53 lbs), along with good technique, in my frame doesn't allow for twisting and a lot of vibration. Therefore, no injury.
It is more about how often you play, i.e how many hours every week. And also how strong physically you are. Increasing the swing weight makes the racket more powerful, which means you need better timing, footwork, and overall ability to read the game, to control that power. That is why pros practice every day - and don't change rackets and specs in years. Their swings are really grooved with certain weight balance and swing weight.
When Djokovic extended his racket and made it lighter due to his tennis elbow, he said he had to "relearn" tennis. (Btw that is what causes tennis elbow - a racket that has weight distribution with too much weight at the center, i.e too solid. But that is a whole new topic of its own.)
I recently trialed a pure drive team and it’s 15g lighter than what I’m used to and my elbow popped trying to serve and I’m just hoping a 300g pure drive will solve it because I love Babolat rackets
Yup, because Babolat are such arm friendly racquets. That's why I see a bunch of middle aged guys using them at my local club, strung with polyester to boot, all wearing arm braces.
@@johnnyguitar6697 Yep!
300grams is not heavy.
Im open to these types of video's then i see the swingweight listed in g, quoting intuitive tennis for gear related then incorrect pro specs 😒
I think it's important, if your going to talk about practice versus match play, to make the distinction between those who practice casually and those who practice with intent. For many of us, we practice in the manner in which we wish to play.
Definitely agree, most players can't handle heavier weights. It invites injury if you're not accustomed to it. In longer matches your performance will suffer as your muscles tire faster. I used to play with a strung weight of around 350g, sometimes even experimenting slightly above that. Now I've reduced down to around 340g. It's still heavy, powerful, but feels much more comfortable.
02:28 Yoy say Djok swing weight is 330. The graphic says Djokovic swing weight is 360...
And is racquet weight and racquet swing weight calculated without strings?
🤔
Yep, I already addressed the inaccurate statement I made in the video. The graphic is accurate based on it's strung specs.
@@TK-Tennis Good stuff. I never knew my swing weight. Only knew that my static unstrung weight was 12.0 ounce = 340 grams ... Just checked and saw that my swing weight was 338... I am a 3.5/4.0 player. One handed backhand. I am average size and not particularly strong. Been playing with same racquet for years and I am getting good power for my level on backhand... When I try lighter 10.5 ounce racquets I find my backhand power drops moderately.... OTOH, my volleys feel much more comfortable with the lighter racquet. My heavy racquet (6 points head light) is not as maneuverable as lighter racquet. So it is a tradeoff for me.
@@Better_Call_Raul Facts, like with everything there are tradeoffs that need to be managed. Impressed you can handle a 338 swing weight on a 1HBH. I can hit a nice one hander at a 4.0-4.5ish level, but not using a 338SW...but then we all have different strokes and swing profiles...kudos.
@@Better_Call_Raul I saw your comment on the Prince Bryan Brothers racquet swing weight question. For all practical purposes, swing weight should be measured with strings installed and typically most everyone references it that way, except some manufactures may publish swing weight with or without strings. You need to be careful and look for whether it's referenced as strung or unstrung when viewing manufacturer specs.
Short answer is, Yes, you may very well be using a higher swing weight than Sinner 😜
I am 6’2 and an Ox… lol. Actually true… anyway, I played a lot as a teenager… got to an advanced level and then had some injuries and didn’t play for a long time. Started playing again many years later with a lightish racquet and got a lot of arm issues until I moved to a heavier racquet. Heavier racquets absorb more of the vibrations… they are not as stiff and if you have a fast arm like me, they allow proper swing mechanics. I was mishitting and framing a lot with light racquets as I’d constantly hit too early. I agree that you need to play as heavy as your body and level will allow but not to go overboard. A coach laughed at me for buying a heavy “pro” racquet and made a comment about ego… but a couple of weeks later he told me how much better I’m playing… essentially now at his level… so he ate humble pie :) I also think a heavier racquet is essential if you want to volley well. Nothing beats that solidity when hitting a volley…. Feels so good.
Balance is 350, but its static strung weight is 285. What do you think of that? Is the word "balance" strung or unstrung swing weight?
Unsure what you are saying. Is your balance 35cm and therefore head heavy? Are you asking whether balance is taken with or without strings?
@@TK-Tennisthanks. Yes. Yes.
@@TK-Tennis and yes. Is "Balance" unstrung?
@@pjcdm Balance should always be measured strung as well.
300 g strung is great, head light
Jonas pointed out to gradually add weight, not to copy the pros (as he does in many of his videos), and emphasized on not going overboard with the lead tape. Points that were made in this video as well. So it seems you guys are more in agreement than you may realise.
I found the Swing Weight advisory chart interesting. The SW of my racquets may indeed be a little bit above my playing level, I don't know. I'm chalking that one up to personal preference 😉
Excellent advice in this video anyone trying to find the right racquet for themselves should start here
My RF97 @372g healed my arm which lighter racquets destroyed
I played with the Dunlop Black Max up until 36 years ago when I had to give up the game due to tennis elbow. I loved the flexibility, but it was like swinging an axe at 360 grams. The top spin on the backhands were great. I'm trying to get back into the game at 70 and there is no way I could play with something like that now. I'm starting with the Wilson Clash 100l. I heard pickle ball being played in the background of this video. I hope I don't end up there.
Mad props to you for getting back into the game, it's never too late. During the summer I am a member in a club in Germany and they have a 90's singles league, something to strive for!!!
@@TK-Tennis A 90's league. How can they swing a racket with a walker? Ha Ha. I hope to just make it into my 90's.
@@ontheside5942 The thing with a 90's league is you never know what the roster will be for the next match.
Thanks for the video, rather than adding a ton of weight most recreational players would benefit more from six months to a year of lessons with an good experienced technical Coach! (I include myself in the need for better techniques) and less time worrying about equipment.
100%, that goes without saying. Blaming gear is more fun and less damaging on the ego. 😉
No one is advocating rec players add a ton of weight but French Tennis Federation published a guideline that strung SW should be 320 or higher. Many retail rackets have a SW that is below that. I personally have seen petite female players use a SW in the 320 to 330 range with no problem. If SW is under 320, the frame is unstable at impact. Yea, rec players don't really need 340 or above SW but a SW in the 320-330 range is light and whippy and handles impact much better. It also makes it a bit easier to add pace and spin to your shots.
I used a wide variety of "well reviewed" racquets from 315g to 340g with swingweights from 315 to 335. I could play okay with all of them for one or one and half sets.. I now play with a 300 gram 16 x18 and strung sw of about 300. I play consistently three sets. I play better with the lighter racquet because, I'm a recreational 3.5 player with a full time job and no time or desire to regularly train and practice. I wish you had made this video 11 years ago! If you want to improve your game buy a stringer, fresh strings every two weeks help a lot more than lead tape. Thanks Coach!
Good advice to restring more often 👍🏻
I’m 6 ft tall and built like an ox and a 4.0/4.5 player. I just missed your cutoff. 😂 Nice video. I don’t fully agree but I think you make some good points. You need to include the “fun factor” as well in your equation.
You are in the 95 percentile!!! You are still close to within the range 👍
Great video! I am a player with tennis elbow and a 1hbh playing with Babolat Pure Drive 300gr, which seems to have 321 swingweight. I honestly feel it's not easy to handle but it helps me go through the ball on the backhand. I am looking to change for a Wilson clash but not sure of changing to the 100 pro v2 (swingweight 325 but balance 31.5) or to the 100 v2 version (swingweight 313 and balance 32). Which one do you recommend buying taking into account I have tennis elbow? And thank you very much for the video.
I think the only way to know is to demo each for a week each and see if you notice any difference in the impact. Are you using a Multifilament or Poly string. If a Poly, try a Multifilament like Head MLT
@@TK-Tennis Thank you for answering. But did you mean try multifilament with the babolat pure drive 300gr? And not change it for any Wilson Clash?
@@musicaangomera If you are using a Poly with the Pure Drive 300g, then certainly try a multi with that first. Then if your tennis elbow subsides, you can potentially reintroduce a Multi/Poly hybrid down the line and see if that causes any issues.
I’ve used to play with prostaff 97(315 unstrung) then ezone 98 and vcore 98 (both 305unstrung) then ezone 100(300gr) babolat pure drive and aero both 300gr, then i’ve switch to yonex vcore 100l (280gr unstrung) and i feel i can do everything with this weight. I am athlete male 38yo.
Yeap, a lot of weight is good for plough through and power, but is difficult to have good timing all the time. It is a heavy duty to play with heavy raquets if you are all rounder player and you play a lot, but you are not a pro
When we are honest with ourselves we always learn a lot. Like you, I now prefer starting with a 275-285 racquet and customizing it to my ideal spec versus dealing with the heavier default Pro or MP versions.
@@TK-Tennis that’s true. We all can play even with 400gr for a while, but it wont make us better player. With light weight i feel i have more time and my timing is better without losing power. Yeah, the hardest part is to know what we really need.
@@marcink5 Agreed, the process of determining what works best for each of us can be long and challenging. My next video is about exactly that "The best way to customize your racquet" which I hope will make the process a little easier.
I agree. For the first time I use a sub 300g racket (Babolat Pure Aero Lite 2023 270g) and I’m very happy with it. same feeling, I can do it all on court, tennis became fun again. Of course, I play at recreational level.
@@rodrigocosta1852 The Pure Aero Lite likely plays really well for a light racquet, and it would be easy to add weight and customize if desired.
on two occasions now I noticed that you're using swing measuring tool (BRIFIDI) in a wrong way and as a result you might not be getting correct measurement values.
Read the manual, or provide explanation why do you use it in a way you are using it
What specifically are you referring to? FYI, The clips I posted as examples are just what I use for B-roll in the video, not in actual use so maybe you are seeing something related where I'm just grabbing footage of the device
Wait… did you just say that Djokovic swing weight is 330g strung? You must mean unstrung right? Because that makes a huge difference
He's wrong as Djokovic's SW has been in 360 to 370 range for his entire career. He has lead down both sides and at 10 and 2 under bumper.
I was ready to - by the title of this video - criticize it's content...
But he's RIGHT, Heavier that YOU can HANDLE is IMPORTANT!!!
My Prestiges are requiring I workout regularly even at my older age to continue using, but I'm being stubborn because I'm not sure I'll enjoy anything Else.
Thanks for going easy, prefer props over being flamed 😉
Don't use heavier rackets...despite the fact you can return better,serve more accurately and get more consistent ground strokes😀....yeah,you may have to pick up the dum bell twice a week for 30 minutes😀...by the way, a true 5.5 /not self rated/ player is a d1 college kid that plays for a school top 50 in the nation or something like that.....it's about ITF /satelite tour/ level
You say Djokovic played SW ~330 and show screenshots that say 350-360SW. As for the video as a whole - that is completely my point of view as well.
Yep, you are correct. I noticed the error during editing and forgot to add a caption noting the mistake.
Vcore 95 345g strung
"The trend in tennis that heavier racquets are better". What exactly are you talking about? 95% of the racquets offered on the market these days are < 310g. Plus this idea that you need to be a 5.5 player to use a 330 SW is complete nonsense. It entirely depends on the swing style and fitness. I am a 4.5 in his 50's, was educated with a wooden racquet, hits aggressively through the ball with Eastern grips (one handed backhand), and I find it very hard to play with anything less than a SW of 325. My ideal range is somewhere between 325 and 330. I've had good success in tournaments, both singles and doubles, with a Prince Phantom 93P (SW 330 measured by TWE) and now with a Head Prestige Classic 2.0 (SW 327 measured by TWE).
I was clear in the video that the trend was from CZcams creators who lately have been frequently recommending higher racquet weights. Your suggested swing weight is also right about in range of whats posted in the chart. Did you watch the video?
@@TK-Tennis Yes, and it's 8:47 of my life I will never get back. It's littered with factual errors, but what takes the cake is bandying this "recommendation table" at every turn as if it were the holy scriptures. According to you, only 5.5 players can handle a SW of 330. I am a lowly 4.5, and have figured through trial and error that what works best for me is high 320's to low 330's.
Your first comment said you were in between 325-330 which puts you on the table, but now you are saying it's higher, is that simply to try and prove your point that you are not within my "suggestions"? I really don't understand what you are arguing about. Be less angry, life is short, go play some tennis.
Don't know why Tennis yu tubers are always rateing pro players as super human strong when they are not as strong as Ronnie Cokeman or any avid Gym goer the heaviest raquets were the woodies and old metal raquets skinny arm federer is not as strong as Rinnie Coleman who would of swung a 5pound raquet easily for the duration of a whole march likewise shaquille o neal oe lebron James Tennis is not strenght but looseness almost weakness in swinging so get real folks
Tennis is far more about agility than strength, that's true. However the ability to wield a heavy racquet efficiently at the pro level requires elite muscle memory development that comes from 1-2 decades of continuous training. You and all those folks you mentioned may be able to swing a 5 pound racquet easier than a top pro, but you can be assured that a Pro can impart a swing speed velocity and control of a 350gram racquet in ways those other folks cannot comprehend. Your perspective is akin to comparing a Pro Ax thrower to a Pro Dart player and thinking they can easily replicate or master their skills.
Jeff, its not the same muscle, in tennis, speed run, boxe, its explosiv muscle, ( elastic ) BodyBuilder cant have power in tennis, because need speed. And about heavy its about articulation injury. im strong, but even 340gr getting heavier after 30 min of play, because need " cardio "
@@lartisan6274don't try to reason with this meathead.
Yes, it's important to NOT hold the racquet too tightly when swing. The weight of the frame should do all the work as well as your loose technique and the kinetic chain.
In this debate, people use the word 'heavier' too literally. Heavier just means more weight than something else. A strong 4.0 that is using a 265g granny stick will find a 300g racket with a higher swing weight more stable and will probably play better tennis with it. So in that instance a 'heavier' racket is most likely better. People need to stop thinking that heavier means 360g.
Nick from intuitive tennis is 90% wrong about tennis equipment. People who have play tested many strings and rackets already know that.
I usually agree with Nick from intuitive tennis, not about string tension. I tested his beloved Kirschbaum Super Smash Orange 1.23mm at 40lbs and hated to play with it. The strings are very good, cheap, but it has to be strung at 48-50lbs to become playable. Low 40’s is like a trampoline.
@@rodrigocosta1852 I can see that being true. I often use Supersmash but at 58lbs and it's one of my fav poly's. The cost factor makes it an incredible string.
That guy from Intuitive Tennis, who said that poly strings were more powerful than gut? Yes, this made me laugh too.
@@johnnyguitar6697 Yeah it's crazy. He said that poly is more powerful than a multi as well. His equipment advice is so strange.
@@johnnyguitar6697 He didn't say that, he said that most polys are stiff, uncomfortable and a risk for the arm. He prefers monofilament poly strings than co-polys. He likes natural gut but it is not the best for modern tennis, except with poly hybrid setup. Nobody uses a full bed natural gut anymore.
My scientific mind is asking to please update your swingweight units, because it's not measured in grams :)
The downloadable PDF was updated already after the video was published. Sadly I cannot edit the video
It sounds like pickleball players invaded your area too!
The invasion is real!
I am 6'4" and 200 pounds, am I an ox? Lol, probably not, even about 330 is my high SW limit realistically
lol, mutant Giraffe/Ox...like the perfect Poly/Multi blend...mix of strength and agility.
@@TK-Tennis not bad, Giraffe/Ox!
When you're playing your 4th singles match of a weekend, weight all of a suddent makes a huge difference to how tired you feel
Don't play 4 matches lol
Tournaments that require this many singles matches are the issue here and not SW of your racket. You aren't tired in the 3rd set because your racket has SW of 325 instead of 305 but you are tired because you've been running around for 2.5 hours playing a demanding sport. Swinging a feather isn't going to help you win and it isn't good for your health as too light destabilizes impact and requires you to swing harder to counter act pace and space and to generate pace and spin. Too low of a SW is actually bad for your wrist, elbow and shoulder. Yes, trying to swing SW 350+ like the pros can also be bad for you if you can't handle it but any adult can handle SW in 320-330 range.
@@CJZM7777 Well said.
3:55 swing weight is not measured in grams.
The error was corrected on the downloadable document, now listed as kilograms multiplied by square centimeters (kg x cm^2).
If you are playing against someone who is hitting a very fast and heavy ball, you MUST have a racquet that will be heavy enough to resist twisting and recoil and still be able to control the spin and placement of the ball. Do you think that college and pro players started with a 360 swing weight? They didn't. As they advance in their careers, their coaches and they themselves realize that they cannot hit a volley or a groundstroke against someone that is hitting an 80 to 100mph forehand at them and use a store bought racquet. This is why even the women increase the SW of their racquets. If you are playing with a bunch of old hackers at your club or city park, then of course you don't need a heavier racquet. However, if you yourself are playing against highly skilled and highly rated players, using a racquet with less than a 330 swing weight is not going to cut it. Sorry, but it just isn't. There is, however, the technique factor. Proper technique in combination with a reasonably weighted frame will do wonders to prevent injury.
On a slightly different note, I use the same racquet that you use. Gravity MP with 8 grams of lead at the top and silicone in the handle. Static weight of 336 grams and Swing weight of 330. Balance of 325 mm. Lovely flex and at 53lbs tension with YTex ProTour Blue. Amazing! 4 of them all matched.
The chart shows that highly advanced players should be using heavier SW's. Sinner uses a 340SW. As for you MUST have a heavier swing weight, that's not accurate from my experience. I have hit with many players with ATP points and I use a 320SW racquet, and it's not an issue. In fact if I had to use a higher swing weight I would have even more difficulty striking the ball in the strike zone.
@@TK-Tennis Practicing? Perhaps. During a match, no effing way. You’re fudging.
@@chuckfriebe843 Yes that's right, rally practice only. I have no business playing points anymore with such caliber players
@@TK-Tennis hiting with players with atp points with only 320 sw racquet oahh what racquet is that i want to buy it 3 pieces tomorow plz!
@@agradina Why does that surprise you, it's not a big deal. I have close friends who were top 500 and they still actively hit with ATP level pros with racquets around 320, stock Head Speed MP. He has no issues whatsoever keeping up and hitting winners on tour level players.
7:45 Doesn't Alcaraz use a pure aero 98 that's almost stock?
🤷♂ I heard that as well but did not find trust worthy confirmation
this has not been confirmed. It is also not likely either. His coach, Ferrero, used a high SW and has been coaching Alcaraz since Carlos was a young junior. Spanish players in general have historically used high SW too. Nadal, Moya & Verdasco all used high. Moya has SW 400, Nadal 370 and Verdasco had long strips of lead tape on his racket for most of his career. Alcaraz's hero was Federer and Federer used SW 355 for most of his career. To be fair, some of the modern pros have gone lower than the Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and earlier generations but French Tennis Federation has a guideline that SW should be 320 or higher. Any adult including a small petite adult can easily handle a SW of 320-325 range.
@@CJZM7777 Respectfully I strongly disagree with that last point. As two examples, (1) my wife is a currently a 5.0 rated women player who played #1 level D1 tennis and even though her strokes and footwork are still incredible, her game severely degrades when she uses any racquet over 300-310SW (2) In my case, I played satellites/futures in my younger years and I am fit and play 5+ days a week. Sure I can handle a 330+SW racquet fine while practicing without any issues, but match play is a whole different story. I only realized this from 1-2 years of customization journey and being really honest with myself. Hitting and match play often result in very different assessments and that's where I have learned the truth about ideal swing weights. I firmly believe players are making decisions based on desire and ego over honest assessment
@@TK-Tennis I have tried SW in 310-319 range and much prefer SW in the 325 to 330 range now at 67 years old. I used 330-340 when younger. I play competitive singles and doubles leagues around 30-40 competitive matches per year. I play with a several 5.0 women and some won national 5.0 team competition a couple of years ago. They use rackets in the 315-325 SW range. My wife ws 5' 4" A level 4.5 level and was quite comfortable in 4.5 to 5.0 level. French Tennis Federation says 320 SW or above is recommended and I agree with them.
@@CJZM7777 First mistake, listening to what the French suggest...lol. But in all seriousness, it it totally subjective and personal preference. With that said, I've seen this story time and time again. When players truly go through the process of experimenting they most often find they are playing with swing weights that are too high and they perform better in matches with lower swing weights. Most often the best outcome is adding weight to the handle to improve the headlight balance while adding mass to the racquet, and then lowering swing weight. In this configuration they increase racquet mass (good) and increase head maneuverability (good).
Great video. Super easy, but in-depth explanation. This is exactly how videos about these important tennis racket topics should be done. Keep up the great work! Tennis Guy from the Czech Republic.
Much to improve on delivery and skills, but I appreciate the nice compliment...better than being flamed ;-)
Nice Video, You did the right thing disagreeing with Tennisnerd. He is a good youtuber, but that video is biased towards heavier Raquet for sure which mis directs many beginners, intermediate players
It's not about how good or strong you are and what you can handle. It's about what kind of balls your opponent is going to send at you. When you're playing at lower levels and your opponents are going to hit everything short and slow, you don't need a heavy racket. Instead of using the heaviest racket you can handle, use the lightest racket you can get away with against your typical opponents. Lighter is going to make you better in every way as long as you can still overcome the incoming ball weight.
What's the price of your opinion when you don't know how to pronounce Djokovic right. Or simply don't care. Shame on you
If that's your gripe, then I sure hope you don't watch how the Tennis Channel broadcasters pronounce player names. #shameonme 😛
@@TK-Tennisright. I don't watch that trash. It's more talking than tennis on TC
heavy = shittier
😴