Your next racquets, matched
My latest quest for 2 matching racquets has ended. With purchasing 3 :) After unsuccessful measurements in a couple of Golfsmith stores, I contacted both Tennis Express and Tennis Warehouse to see what they could do.
Tennis Express didn't do well on this one. I generally like their selection and their affinity towards new media. I have had smooth buying experiences in the past too. They offer Google Checkout as a payment option, which is another plus for me. Just enter your Google password, and payment and shipment details are taken care of.
When I called, the Tennis Express rep confused matching with customizing, and quoted me $35 per racquet. I explained matching, and it appeared that the rep wasn't aware of the common manufacturing variances. I was put on hold, and then they quoted with $25 per frame for matching. That seemed a little expensive. I still had the feeling the rep didn't know what I was talking about, so I decided to send an email and see what I get back.
In 2 short paragraphs, I outlined exactly what I was looking for: can you please match weight, balance, and if possible swingweight. Here are the spec ranges I'm looking for. The reply was a 2 liner without greeting and 2 typos, saying they "can weight racqeuts" and that the charge would be $10 per racquet. Different charge than quoted before, at least a bit fairer. But they answered a question I didn't ask, "can you weigh racquets?". So that didn't instill too much confidence, and I kept looking for other options.
Tennis Warehouse did better in my case. I emailed an identical request, and even though it took a follow-up from me 3 days later to get an initial reply, things ended up moving pretty quickly. It turned out that they had forwarded the request to their racquet specialist. He replied to my follow-up saying that he had measured hundreds of these frames and that it should be very possible to meet my spec request. That was exciting to hear, and so I said "if you can find 3 matches I'll buy 3"! Win-win situation.
Long story short, he found 3 frames, all almost identical in weight and balance, and they even measured and matched swingweight. Within one day, they had found the racquets, strung them up with 3 different strings as I requested, pricematched a Golfsmith promotion, and shipped with Golden Gate Overnight. The matching charge was $10, and they put a sticker with specs on each frame:
What does all this mean for you? I'd say if you need 2 racquets or more, ask to get them matched. Create demand in the market so that stores and manufacturers respond and don't keep selling racquets that look the same but play differenty. When your string breaks at 5:5 in the third set of your team's decisive match of the season, you don't want to pick up a different racquet :)
I'm sure Tennis Express can step up their game by educating their staff and getting the right equipment and processes in place. But from my experience, I for now recommend Tennis Warehouse if you're in the US and your local store can't match for you. So identify the racquet you'd like to buy, maybe measure some frames to get an idea for the model's spec ranges, and then specify and communicate what you want.
Me, I'll try the frames without customizing for a while and see how I like them. Since I went for the headlight and lighter end of the variance spectrum, I thought I'd quickly need to put a few grams on the head, but so far so good. Will keep you posted :)
Tennis Express didn't do well on this one. I generally like their selection and their affinity towards new media. I have had smooth buying experiences in the past too. They offer Google Checkout as a payment option, which is another plus for me. Just enter your Google password, and payment and shipment details are taken care of.
When I called, the Tennis Express rep confused matching with customizing, and quoted me $35 per racquet. I explained matching, and it appeared that the rep wasn't aware of the common manufacturing variances. I was put on hold, and then they quoted with $25 per frame for matching. That seemed a little expensive. I still had the feeling the rep didn't know what I was talking about, so I decided to send an email and see what I get back.
In 2 short paragraphs, I outlined exactly what I was looking for: can you please match weight, balance, and if possible swingweight. Here are the spec ranges I'm looking for. The reply was a 2 liner without greeting and 2 typos, saying they "can weight racqeuts" and that the charge would be $10 per racquet. Different charge than quoted before, at least a bit fairer. But they answered a question I didn't ask, "can you weigh racquets?". So that didn't instill too much confidence, and I kept looking for other options.
Tennis Warehouse did better in my case. I emailed an identical request, and even though it took a follow-up from me 3 days later to get an initial reply, things ended up moving pretty quickly. It turned out that they had forwarded the request to their racquet specialist. He replied to my follow-up saying that he had measured hundreds of these frames and that it should be very possible to meet my spec request. That was exciting to hear, and so I said "if you can find 3 matches I'll buy 3"! Win-win situation.
Long story short, he found 3 frames, all almost identical in weight and balance, and they even measured and matched swingweight. Within one day, they had found the racquets, strung them up with 3 different strings as I requested, pricematched a Golfsmith promotion, and shipped with Golden Gate Overnight. The matching charge was $10, and they put a sticker with specs on each frame:
 |
| From Racquets |
What does all this mean for you? I'd say if you need 2 racquets or more, ask to get them matched. Create demand in the market so that stores and manufacturers respond and don't keep selling racquets that look the same but play differenty. When your string breaks at 5:5 in the third set of your team's decisive match of the season, you don't want to pick up a different racquet :)
I'm sure Tennis Express can step up their game by educating their staff and getting the right equipment and processes in place. But from my experience, I for now recommend Tennis Warehouse if you're in the US and your local store can't match for you. So identify the racquet you'd like to buy, maybe measure some frames to get an idea for the model's spec ranges, and then specify and communicate what you want.
Me, I'll try the frames without customizing for a while and see how I like them. Since I went for the headlight and lighter end of the variance spectrum, I thought I'd quickly need to put a few grams on the head, but so far so good. Will keep you posted :)
The adventure of finding 2 matching racquets
I've always been tempted to play with Wilson Six.One Tour BLX (supposedly "Roger Federer's racquet"). The frame has always felt great in my hand and I know that it'll allow me to pull off every shot in my skill set. I also like the thin beam and the even string spacing in the sweet spot, in contrast to some other racquets on the market today.
So far, I've never been able to get it enough power and comfort with this racquet. I made the same observation with the BLX version, despite many players stating that it feels more dampened than its predecessors.
Well, it looks like all my string testing over the last few years is finally starting to pay off. I found the WeissCANNON Silverstring very comfortable and playable at low tensions. I strung up a demo @ 44/42 lbs / 20/19 kps (yep!) for a good combo of power and comfort, and had a couple of hits with it that I really enjoyed. Not quite perfect yet, but definitely close and tweakable.
The demo I had was also a tad too head-heavy for me, with a 322 mm balance point. So I think it's time to buy a pair and give it a shot!
From Strings
As I pointed out earlier though, finding 2 matching frames is not trivial, yet quite important. I haven't seen a shop yet that proactively matches frames, so you have to take the first step. Very few stores have scales, even fewer have balance boards, and I have only seen one store that had a swing weight machine (and that was in Germany!).
So far, I've never been able to get it enough power and comfort with this racquet. I made the same observation with the BLX version, despite many players stating that it feels more dampened than its predecessors.
Well, it looks like all my string testing over the last few years is finally starting to pay off. I found the WeissCANNON Silverstring very comfortable and playable at low tensions. I strung up a demo @ 44/42 lbs / 20/19 kps (yep!) for a good combo of power and comfort, and had a couple of hits with it that I really enjoyed. Not quite perfect yet, but definitely close and tweakable.
The demo I had was also a tad too head-heavy for me, with a 322 mm balance point. So I think it's time to buy a pair and give it a shot!
From Strings
So you're on your own, and best to bring your own equipment. You can obviously ask one of the major online stores to match it for you, but I'd rather set my own min / max limits and have a little more control over what I'm choosing.
I went out today to find a matching pair of Wilson BLX Six.One Tours. Armed with my digital kitchen scale and Viper balance board, I was hoping to find a match that I'd be comfortable with. I already expected that I wouldn't find a perfect match, so I was aiming to find 2 frames that were pretty close, and on the lighter and more headlight end.
The thinking behind that is that it's always easier to add weight than remove it, and to do so in the head. If a racquet is too light and headlight, you can just add some lead tape to the racquet head. If the racquet is too head-heavy, you have to mess with grip which is usually more tricky, plus it increases the overall weight.
So I went and measured 8 frames in total. Since I didn't want to over-annoy the respective sales reps, I started measuring with cardboard and plastic wrap attached to see if I could find any that were close. As a second step, I would take the close ones and remove the cardboard for a more exact measure.
The card board and the rubber bands usually weigh around 14 grams, not too much tolerance there. The plastic wrap around the handle plus the price tag should also be fairly consistent around 2 grams. To reduce the error a bit further, I did try to center the card board on the frames before taking the measures.
In the first store, I measured 3 frames, and all turned out too different: weight ranged from 355 to 360 grams (which is not too bad), however balance ranged from 305 to 320 mm - completely different racquets! The heaviest racquet at 360 grams was also the least headlight, at 320 mm. On the one hand, that makes it quite easy to add some lead to another frame to match it. But for my personal taste that'll make the racquets feel too heavy to swing (= swing weight too high). So no luck here.
In the second store, I measured 5 frames. Weight was in a pretty ok range again between 355 and 360. Judging from this limited sample of 8, Wilson's quality control seems to be ok with a 5 gram range. But the spread in balance was again quite wide, ranging from 311 to 322 mm.
I did find 2 frames that were promising with the cardboard on. Once I took it off, the weight was off by the same amount (~ 1 gram), however one balanced at 303 and the other at 308 mm. Somewhat close, but I thought I'd regret giving up too early. So for now, the search continues. Wish me luck!
Bank of the West recap & highlights
I spent some time at Stanford this week for the WTA's US Open series kickoff. Here are some things I noticed about the players by watching them in person:
- Ana Ivanovic: I think Ana needs to add something to her game that separates her from her competitors, many others strike harder and move better than her. However, she can hit flat, deep shots, and has potential for great volleys, so I would build on that and come in a lot more. Maybe play more doubles too to practice serve & volley and build confidence at the net. In her match against Bartoli, she placed a lot of sitters right into Bartoli's strike zone, so she'll need to work on strategy and versatility as well. Her slice serve out wide from the deuce court was effective, however overall serves were pretty shaky. Each toss and service motion looked a bit different, so it's hard to build up consistency and confidence. Maybe try practicing like Sampras used to: let the coach call what serve to play when the toss is up in the air.
- Marion Bartoli: Marion hits everything that's within a 2-3 step radius long and hard. As an opponent, that means that you won't be surprised with spin, dropshots, angles etc, and if you have a versatile game yourself you are looking pretty good in that matchup. Looks like Marion is working very hard out there and seems incredibly (in)tense, so am wondering how sustainable that is in the long run.
- Victoria Azarenka: I'm not a big fan of Vika's soundtrack but am impressed with her movement and the consistency of her power game. She hit solid volleys and produced some nice angles too. Practicing and playing with the Kastles will likely help her to become a great allrounder and handle pace very well.
- Sam Stosur: Really like the fact that Sam is an allround player, but would have expected her at the net a bit more. Not sure if she knew how to win against Vika. Lots of framers off the forehand during that match. Seems to me that Sam could get more power and spin out of her great groundstrokes, maybe with a slightly more powerful racquet, with a slightly bigger head, and a more open string pattern. Otherwise, why not come in after a heavy forehand or a low slice?
- Maria Sharapova: Very much enjoyed watching Maria's long swings and racquet head acceleration. Great to see in person what a fierce competitor she is, no letting down ever. Didn't play to well in the semis but her will powered her through to the final. Could add a little margin to the lines. Serve looks fluent and athletic again but still with varying results Not sure if the long prep ritual helps or gives her too much time to think. Also, I was surprised that she kept going for flat backhands down the line, a low percentage shot that either didn't make it over or went into the righty's forehand, who can then produce the better (and safer) angle.
- Lindsay Davenport: Lindsay looks very fit and plays no-nonsense tennis. Still deep and heavy shots, pushing the youngsters back. That makes a great combo with Liezel Huber who cleans up everything at the net with great doubles anticipation and shot selection. I had never noticed that Lindsay releases and re-grips her racquet during her service motion, which likely helps her to loosen up her arm and increase head speed towards the ball. So that was a nice in-person discovery.
- Liezel Huber: Hits her western grip forehand crazy late, but it seems to work. That probably gives her some extra time on returns. She knows exactly where to put the balls in doubles. Very few unforced errors, and anticipated very well where less experienced opponents would hit the ball.
Preparing for the next big match
Our team has a big match tomorrow, and for the last few days I found myself thinking about what I've learned about preparing for these occasions. "Tomorrow" happens to be a Sunday, so I have the luxury of utilizing the whole Saturday to increase my chances of doing well.
Tennis players learn early that their energy is best spent on what they can control. So as I'm going through my to-do's and not-to-do's for today, I thought I'd share a sample checklist for inspiration:
Do:
If you don't have a day off before your next big match, start thinking and prepping a little earlier. Last minute stress drains energy, and noticing that you underprepared won't be pleasant to find out once you're on court.
Alright, time to prep for tomorrow! What better way to wrap up this post with the quote we all know and love: "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" :)
Hope you found a couple extra things that can improve your preparation. Please let me know if missed anything!
Tennis players learn early that their energy is best spent on what they can control. So as I'm going through my to-do's and not-to-do's for today, I thought I'd share a sample checklist for inspiration:
Do:
- Prepare to sleep well
- Eat 3 full meals
- Hydrate
- Perform a bag check to see if anything needs to be washed, bought, or backfilled (got bananas?)
- Plan the trip, e.g. see how long it will take and come up with one alternative route, if a long trip get some water and tennis-food car ready
- Check weather forecast and adjust gear
- Go through what's known about the match, for example opponent, courts, any special rules etc, and adjust strategy accordingly
- String racquets (make sure to adjust string job to surface, weather, balls)
- Build up confidence, for example go through past successes in similar situations or watch yourself on video
- Arrange warm-up (partners and court)
- Rally up supporters and let them know how they can best help
- Consider a light hit and/or jog the day before if that has helped in the past
- If doubles, sync up with partner about match & strategy
- If team match, sync up with team and/or captain about lineup, combos, and backup players & plan
- Exhaust yourself (e.g. heavy workout, heat, long drive, extended hike)
- Be too lazy either
- Do anything else out of the ordinary (eat different, sleep different, ...)
If you don't have a day off before your next big match, start thinking and prepping a little earlier. Last minute stress drains energy, and noticing that you underprepared won't be pleasant to find out once you're on court.
Alright, time to prep for tomorrow! What better way to wrap up this post with the quote we all know and love: "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare" :)
Hope you found a couple extra things that can improve your preparation. Please let me know if missed anything!
Wilson BLX: evolution or flavor of the year?
The new Wilson BLX racquets have been out for a couple of months now, so time to see what BLX did to the classic frames and how a some of the new racquets feel. You can read a couple paragraphs about the new material on Wilson's website. I'm sure the marketing folks have been very excited creating a lot of hype around volcanic rock and gold fibers - but how do the racquets do on court?
For a first demo round, I picked the folowing frames:
Federer's weapon of choice has always felt great to me, until actually hitting a ball :) I've been hoping for a softer version for a long time, so maybe this is the one!
As for the 6.1, I did enjoy my nCode for a couple of years and played some good matches with it.
The specs of the new black-yellow "Pro Tour" promised a pleasant hit.
Finally, Justine Henin's comeback frame seemed interesting to me too: some extra length and a relatively open string pattern, plus Justine came back with a more aggressive style of play and pretty crips volleys.
My impressions after taking the demos out for a couple of hits:
Wilson Six-One Tour BLX
(Roger Federer's racquet, at least officially)
For a first demo round, I picked the folowing frames:
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| From Racquets |
Federer's weapon of choice has always felt great to me, until actually hitting a ball :) I've been hoping for a softer version for a long time, so maybe this is the one!
As for the 6.1, I did enjoy my nCode for a couple of years and played some good matches with it.
The specs of the new black-yellow "Pro Tour" promised a pleasant hit.
Finally, Justine Henin's comeback frame seemed interesting to me too: some extra length and a relatively open string pattern, plus Justine came back with a more aggressive style of play and pretty crips volleys.
My impressions after taking the demos out for a couple of hits:
Wilson Six-One Tour BLX
(Roger Federer's racquet, at least officially)- Same great feel as always when you pick it up. Does not seem quite as stiff as the N and the K predecessors. Great control, but can't see myself putting someone under serious pressure from the baseline with it. If you have refined technique and like to win with control & finesse, this one might be for you. Don't string it too tight and remember to keep a loose arm :)
- Liked it a lot. Even tightly strung it was comfortable to play with. Might be the best volley racquet out there, rock-solid. For me, it felt great for long baseline swings, like a one-handed backhand. I did see someone with a compact swing hit the fastest forehand I have ever seen, so that seems to be possible too :) As always, I appreciate the open string pattern for some extra bite, and an easier string job.
- Friendly feeling control racket, reminded me a bit of my beloved Hyper Carbon 6.5 which I played for a record ~5 years. Personally, I'd prefer a more open string pattern, and I don't think I could hit winners from anywhere on the court. However, I would enjoy casual hitting or teaching with this stick. Don't think that Juan Martin del Potro can hit as hard with the stock version, so if he's playing something like this racquet, my guess is that it's very much customized and a lot heavier.
- Not bad. Quite powerful and swings nicely. When I pick up a slightly longer racquet I tend to find the sweetspot more easily, and no exception here. Could imagine more baseline rallying or playing up to 4.5 guys with it. Don't think it will be versatile enough for me stand up against 5.0+ players. Might improve the game for folks with long swings and a baseline game, especially on clay or hard court.
Gamma Progression ST II review
For most of my tennis life, I had the luxury of stringing my own racquets in a sports store. This tends to come with a few advantages: you get to use a great machine, try a bunch of strings and experiment with different tensions, and most importantly, you're in total control of how the string job turns out. There are quite a few variables that determine how the racquet feels back on court, and if you care about this, either get a really good stringer who caters to your preferences and feedback, or get a machine and string yourself.
Back in 2005, after a couple of international moves and less tennis than usual, it was time for me to take the game a bit more seriously again. In Ireland, I joined a team that played in the highest Irish league for 2 out of 3 seasons a year, and had aspirations to go up in season #3 as well. So it was pretty competitive. Finding and accessing a great stringer turned out to be a challenge, so I decided to purchase my first machine. I had exclusively worked on electronic machines and enjoyed it, however I was not ready to spend thousands of Euros on a Babolat or Technifibre. So I went for a solid budget machine, a less than 500 Euro Pro's Pro TX-03 (available in the US as Eagnas TX-03), and was quite happy with it for a few years.
I even moved it from Europe to NYC in early 2007, distributing parts of the 60+ lbs across 3 bags which I schlepped through airports and subway stations. I'm glad I brought it though, even though the fuse didn't hold what the 220/110 volts switch promised. A converter solved that problem.
In an effort to make the next move back to the Bay Area a light one, I tried to get rid off as many belongings as possible. Luckily, one of my NYC tennis friends decided to buy the machine of me. But once settled in SF and ready to jump into the NorCal tennis scene, I realized again that I needed my own machine to maximize the tennis experience and minimize the excuses :)
After extensive research and consultation with my gear specialist, I decided to go for the Gamma Progression ST II, with an eye on the Wise Tension Head. Main reasons: great clamps, solid turntable, diablo tension head, and Gamma's experience in the business.
I ordered from ATS Sports which are in the same building as Gamma, just in case I'll ever need a quick repair or replacements parts. Discounts on stringing machines are hard to find, so prices were pretty similar everwhere I looked. ATS's customer service has a good repuration too. Indeed, they were helpful to accomodate a pick-up at a FedEx location when it turned out that the machine would arrive on a Saturday, so I was able to use it on the weekend. Shipping across the country took 5 business days.
Here are the tech specs from their website:
1. Manual spring tension winder (9 to 90 lbs / 5 to 41 kgs)
2. 6-Point Quick Mount System
3. Quick Action Swivel Clamp Bases
4. Slim profile all metal diamond coated string clamps with a unique self-locking adjustment knob to hold strings with less clamping pressure
5. 360 degree turntable rotation with locking brake
6. Base with 2 large tool trays
7. Includes Tools (Pathfinder Awl, Straight Awl, Hex Wrench Set, Straight Pliers & Razor Knife)
8. Floor Stand & Custom Cover available separately
9. 5 Year Limited Warranty
So was it the right decision? Let's take a look at assembly and test drive (click in the image area to view full screen):
At first, I was a bit sceptical about "stepping down" from an electronic to a crank machine, but I have to say that there are elements I enjoy about the new experience. I found it intriguing to have a 100% manual solution that seems to have been refined over time. You can actually see most of the parts in action.
Everything works as it should and the strung racquets feel right on court. Since I like looser tensions I don't care as much about linear pull which you get with the better electronic machines, but depending on your preferred tension and string you might want to consider this. For me, I think I'll keep the crank until it needs servicing, and then I'll determine whether I'll go for the Wise or not. I'm particularly excited about the light aluminum turntable and the great clamps. They move well, are easy to adjust, and do not move once set.
With everything being very simple and mechanical comes a bit extra work to to mount and unmount the frame. I would have also enjoyed a self-centering mounting system, not only for speed but for an even distribution of pressure on the frame. Not a biggie for me though, as long as I string 1-2 racquets a week I can take an extra minute or 2. I do like the red color, however I don't get why Gamma makes their logo that hard to read :)
All in all, I'd buy the Progression ST II again, and would recommend it to all occasional yet demanding stringers out there.
You can find more posts on stringing (UPDATE: including the stringing machine I bought after the ST II) here.
Back in 2005, after a couple of international moves and less tennis than usual, it was time for me to take the game a bit more seriously again. In Ireland, I joined a team that played in the highest Irish league for 2 out of 3 seasons a year, and had aspirations to go up in season #3 as well. So it was pretty competitive. Finding and accessing a great stringer turned out to be a challenge, so I decided to purchase my first machine. I had exclusively worked on electronic machines and enjoyed it, however I was not ready to spend thousands of Euros on a Babolat or Technifibre. So I went for a solid budget machine, a less than 500 Euro Pro's Pro TX-03 (available in the US as Eagnas TX-03), and was quite happy with it for a few years.
I even moved it from Europe to NYC in early 2007, distributing parts of the 60+ lbs across 3 bags which I schlepped through airports and subway stations. I'm glad I brought it though, even though the fuse didn't hold what the 220/110 volts switch promised. A converter solved that problem.
In an effort to make the next move back to the Bay Area a light one, I tried to get rid off as many belongings as possible. Luckily, one of my NYC tennis friends decided to buy the machine of me. But once settled in SF and ready to jump into the NorCal tennis scene, I realized again that I needed my own machine to maximize the tennis experience and minimize the excuses :)
After extensive research and consultation with my gear specialist, I decided to go for the Gamma Progression ST II, with an eye on the Wise Tension Head. Main reasons: great clamps, solid turntable, diablo tension head, and Gamma's experience in the business.
I ordered from ATS Sports which are in the same building as Gamma, just in case I'll ever need a quick repair or replacements parts. Discounts on stringing machines are hard to find, so prices were pretty similar everwhere I looked. ATS's customer service has a good repuration too. Indeed, they were helpful to accomodate a pick-up at a FedEx location when it turned out that the machine would arrive on a Saturday, so I was able to use it on the weekend. Shipping across the country took 5 business days.
Here are the tech specs from their website:
1. Manual spring tension winder (9 to 90 lbs / 5 to 41 kgs)
2. 6-Point Quick Mount System
3. Quick Action Swivel Clamp Bases
4. Slim profile all metal diamond coated string clamps with a unique self-locking adjustment knob to hold strings with less clamping pressure
5. 360 degree turntable rotation with locking brake
6. Base with 2 large tool trays
7. Includes Tools (Pathfinder Awl, Straight Awl, Hex Wrench Set, Straight Pliers & Razor Knife)
8. Floor Stand & Custom Cover available separately
9. 5 Year Limited Warranty
So was it the right decision? Let's take a look at assembly and test drive (click in the image area to view full screen):
At first, I was a bit sceptical about "stepping down" from an electronic to a crank machine, but I have to say that there are elements I enjoy about the new experience. I found it intriguing to have a 100% manual solution that seems to have been refined over time. You can actually see most of the parts in action.
Everything works as it should and the strung racquets feel right on court. Since I like looser tensions I don't care as much about linear pull which you get with the better electronic machines, but depending on your preferred tension and string you might want to consider this. For me, I think I'll keep the crank until it needs servicing, and then I'll determine whether I'll go for the Wise or not. I'm particularly excited about the light aluminum turntable and the great clamps. They move well, are easy to adjust, and do not move once set.
With everything being very simple and mechanical comes a bit extra work to to mount and unmount the frame. I would have also enjoyed a self-centering mounting system, not only for speed but for an even distribution of pressure on the frame. Not a biggie for me though, as long as I string 1-2 racquets a week I can take an extra minute or 2. I do like the red color, however I don't get why Gamma makes their logo that hard to read :)
All in all, I'd buy the Progression ST II again, and would recommend it to all occasional yet demanding stringers out there.
You can find more posts on stringing (UPDATE: including the stringing machine I bought after the ST II) here.
Do your racquets mix or match?
You have at least 2 racquets, so that if your strings break, you have an identical frame to fall back on, right? That's what I was thinking for a good part of my tennis life. Until I started playing with racquets that looked the same, but felt very different.
First, I thought it was misjudgment on my end, but then I started to realize that even a small difference in weight or balance had quite an impact on my game. I found myself marking my favorite out of 5 Wilson Hyper ProStaff 6.5s and playing with it all the time. And hoping that the strings wouldn't break :)
One of my best friends who loves both gear and data was kind enough to walk us through how we can uncover (or proof!) whether our frames are different. And hopefully won't have to go on a racquet matching quest! So without further ado, here's the first guest post for Forehand.TV:
Us amateurs don't have easy access to racquet technicians that the pros do, and often times have to deal with poor racquet-to-racquet consistency for frames we buy off the shelf. Regentville tennis has a couple accounts with this problem with Wilsons in this post and this post.
As someone who loves the sports gear more than the sport, and incredibly picky about getting precise specs, I was quite worried when purchasing new frames that although they are the same make and model, their specs would be quite off. I was finally upgrading from the legendary Prince Original Graphite, a racquet that I've been using for 15 years, to the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick. However, would Babolat's quality control pass my test, given that they have a much shorter history of making racquets compared to Wilson and Prince?
Obviously, going by just "feel" of the racquet is not good enough for me, I need data. So I devised a few tricks that the amateur can use to spec their racquets.
Weight:
This is the easiest, just get yourself a digital scale that measures to fractions of a gram. Then, strip everything off your racquet (grip, grommets, etc) so that it is as bare as possible. In my case, I was very surprised to find the racquets were within 1.3 grams of each - very nice!
Balance:
There are a few ways to do this. A cool trick I learned on the Regentville blog is to slide the racquets onto a stiff rod of some sort, and just see how they hang relative to each other. You can also do this with a pen in a store, just to guestimate which racquets may be close in balance before buying them.
It is just the camera angle which makes it look off, the difference in balance was not perceptible using this method.
A slightly more precise method is to use a ruler and a flat level table surface, with a sharp edge. Hook the ruler or tape measure to the edge, and place the butt end of the racquet at a mark. Slowly push the racquet further off the table until it just barely begins to tilt on its own.
Take a few measurements. Once I've gotten close to the balance point, I'll move the racquet in 1/16" increments and let go, dialing it in to the point where that small change will either cause the racquet to start tipping, or to stay on the table.
Repeat with the other racquet to find its balance point. Try to keep everything identical, and to keep the racquet, table edge, tape measure, etc on straight lines or right angles to each other.
It's important to note both of these measurement techniques are relative. They require the racquets to be compared to be the same model. While I can get a measurement of "12.5 inches" using the latter technique, it means nothing comparing it to, say, my Prince Graphite. Even if I were to compare a Pure Drive to a Pure Drive Roddick, the comparison would not be valid.
I must have gotten lucky, as using these methods of approximation, my racquets showed the same balance. Only difference was one racquet seem to start tilting a bit faster, but the point which that occurred was the same.
The adjustment I had to make was very simple. I put 1.3 grams of lead tape at the butt end of the light racquet.
That is only about 0.5% of the total weight (even less once I add grommets, grips, and strings) and has minimal effect on the balance and almost no effect on swing weight (when placed at the butt end) of the racquet. For comparison, the piece of rubber many manufacturers use to finish the top of a grip weighs 1.5 to 2 grams.
Swing weight?
Well, this is one thing I could not assess to a confidence interval that meant anything, so I didn't try. However, I'm lucky to live in NYC, home to RPNY, a shop that does a lot of customization for touring pros. They were nice enough to measure my racquets when they were brand new (never strung, plastic still on grip, original grommets). Specs below:
Racquet #1: Weight - 317.3 grams, Balance - 315 mm, Swing weight - 297 kg cm², Stiffness - 72
Racquet #2: Weight - 316.9 grams, Balance - 314 mm, Swing weight - 297 kg cm², Stiffness: 72
(FYI - stated spec for Pure Drive Roddick's is 315 grams and balance at 315 mm. The plastic wrap on the grip is about 2 grams. These frames were dead on spec)
Wow, that's pretty damn good! The difference in the delta of the racquet weights with my measurements and RPNY's can be attributed to variances in the grip, plastic wrap, and/or the grommets differences between the two racquets.
Color me impressed, and very lucky. I basically have two identical racquets. Am I skilled enough to require this precision, no. Am I happy, yes.
Out of curiosity, I additionally weighed two extra Pure Drive Roddicks in the store, and they came out to 319.0 and 315.9 grams. While I didn't measure balance (which is harder to correct at home than weight), I'm still very impressed with Babolat's consistency and quality control based on this little sample.
One of my best friends who loves both gear and data was kind enough to walk us through how we can uncover (or proof!) whether our frames are different. And hopefully won't have to go on a racquet matching quest! So without further ado, here's the first guest post for Forehand.TV:
Us amateurs don't have easy access to racquet technicians that the pros do, and often times have to deal with poor racquet-to-racquet consistency for frames we buy off the shelf. Regentville tennis has a couple accounts with this problem with Wilsons in this post and this post.
As someone who loves the sports gear more than the sport, and incredibly picky about getting precise specs, I was quite worried when purchasing new frames that although they are the same make and model, their specs would be quite off. I was finally upgrading from the legendary Prince Original Graphite, a racquet that I've been using for 15 years, to the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick. However, would Babolat's quality control pass my test, given that they have a much shorter history of making racquets compared to Wilson and Prince?
Obviously, going by just "feel" of the racquet is not good enough for me, I need data. So I devised a few tricks that the amateur can use to spec their racquets.
Weight:
This is the easiest, just get yourself a digital scale that measures to fractions of a gram. Then, strip everything off your racquet (grip, grommets, etc) so that it is as bare as possible. In my case, I was very surprised to find the racquets were within 1.3 grams of each - very nice!
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| From Gear |
Balance:
There are a few ways to do this. A cool trick I learned on the Regentville blog is to slide the racquets onto a stiff rod of some sort, and just see how they hang relative to each other. You can also do this with a pen in a store, just to guestimate which racquets may be close in balance before buying them.
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| From Gear |
It is just the camera angle which makes it look off, the difference in balance was not perceptible using this method.
A slightly more precise method is to use a ruler and a flat level table surface, with a sharp edge. Hook the ruler or tape measure to the edge, and place the butt end of the racquet at a mark. Slowly push the racquet further off the table until it just barely begins to tilt on its own.
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| From Gear |
Take a few measurements. Once I've gotten close to the balance point, I'll move the racquet in 1/16" increments and let go, dialing it in to the point where that small change will either cause the racquet to start tipping, or to stay on the table.
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| From Gear |
Repeat with the other racquet to find its balance point. Try to keep everything identical, and to keep the racquet, table edge, tape measure, etc on straight lines or right angles to each other.
It's important to note both of these measurement techniques are relative. They require the racquets to be compared to be the same model. While I can get a measurement of "12.5 inches" using the latter technique, it means nothing comparing it to, say, my Prince Graphite. Even if I were to compare a Pure Drive to a Pure Drive Roddick, the comparison would not be valid.
I must have gotten lucky, as using these methods of approximation, my racquets showed the same balance. Only difference was one racquet seem to start tilting a bit faster, but the point which that occurred was the same.
The adjustment I had to make was very simple. I put 1.3 grams of lead tape at the butt end of the light racquet.
 |
| From Gear |
That is only about 0.5% of the total weight (even less once I add grommets, grips, and strings) and has minimal effect on the balance and almost no effect on swing weight (when placed at the butt end) of the racquet. For comparison, the piece of rubber many manufacturers use to finish the top of a grip weighs 1.5 to 2 grams.
Swing weight?
Well, this is one thing I could not assess to a confidence interval that meant anything, so I didn't try. However, I'm lucky to live in NYC, home to RPNY, a shop that does a lot of customization for touring pros. They were nice enough to measure my racquets when they were brand new (never strung, plastic still on grip, original grommets). Specs below:
Racquet #1: Weight - 317.3 grams, Balance - 315 mm, Swing weight - 297 kg cm², Stiffness - 72
Racquet #2: Weight - 316.9 grams, Balance - 314 mm, Swing weight - 297 kg cm², Stiffness: 72
(FYI - stated spec for Pure Drive Roddick's is 315 grams and balance at 315 mm. The plastic wrap on the grip is about 2 grams. These frames were dead on spec)
Wow, that's pretty damn good! The difference in the delta of the racquet weights with my measurements and RPNY's can be attributed to variances in the grip, plastic wrap, and/or the grommets differences between the two racquets.
Color me impressed, and very lucky. I basically have two identical racquets. Am I skilled enough to require this precision, no. Am I happy, yes.
Out of curiosity, I additionally weighed two extra Pure Drive Roddicks in the store, and they came out to 319.0 and 315.9 grams. While I didn't measure balance (which is harder to correct at home than weight), I'm still very impressed with Babolat's consistency and quality control based on this little sample.
SAP Open 2010 Highlights
Roddick vs. DeHeart ended up being a pretty standard match of underdog against top 10 player. DeHeart impressed with his smooth big swings though, and the audience ended up seeing quite a few enjoyable points:
Similar story with Verdasco and Lu. Lu was on fire in the second set, also taking advantage of Verdasco's unforced errors and less effective serve during that time. 3rd set was quick, due to Verdasco bringing more heat with his forehand and consistent 130mph serving. Some highlights:
More tournament info @ www.sapopentennis.com, and more videos @ youtube.com/forehandTV!
Similar story with Verdasco and Lu. Lu was on fire in the second set, also taking advantage of Verdasco's unforced errors and less effective serve during that time. 3rd set was quick, due to Verdasco bringing more heat with his forehand and consistent 130mph serving. Some highlights:
More tournament info @ www.sapopentennis.com, and more videos @ youtube.com/forehandTV!
A mixed batch
Tried a few more racquets I've been curious about:
Wilson K Factor Kobra Tour
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| From Racquets |
Wilson K Factor Kobra Tour
- Actually re-demoed the Kobra Tour because I had to admit to myself that I liked it the first time around, despite the wide-body frame and its looks. But, it's very easy to play with. What's special about this frame is that it's both head-light and light in general. So I switched to it for a while for playing on not-so-great courts in San Francisco, which made the hits more enjoyable. In the first tournament I played with it though, I found that it's tougher to get the good guys in trouble with it. That's where I started missing the weight and finesse of a player frame like a Wilson 6.1.
- Not the prettiest racquet on the block, but when do you get to try a diagonally strung stick with player racquet specs? Really enjoyed this one, unfortunately the string broke after ~30 mins. Spin came easily and we definitely saw some interesting bounces on court. Frame did not feel stiff at all despite the high rating on the Tennis Warehouse page. Took about 5 mins of getting used to, and would love to demo it again.
- Another racquet that just feels great when you pick it up and swing it through the air. I was a little disappointed on court though - I was hoping I could generate some power and spin despite the small head and tight string pattern, due to the head-light balance and overall weight of the racquet. So it seems more geared towards rather flat, long swings. It does offer decent control and allows you to find good angles. If I remember correctly, I liked the predecessor a bit better. I'm still considering buying one so I can just hold it :)
- Been looking at demoing this racquet for a while - specs seem great for me on paper. Head-light balance, soft frame, open string bed. And of course Prestige heritage. On court it felt nice, however I wasn't able to generate as much spin as I was hoping for, and I was neither able to go for really big shots, so this was a no-go, unfortunately.
Interesting places to play
Thought I'd share some of the interesting places I've played at over the last few years. Great experience to play on different surfaces and in different conditions. Lesson learned: Tell yourself that tough conditions can only make you better :)
Comes to mind: wind, cold, darkness, and rain on wet omni-courts in Ireland, or 8.5 hours of tennis within 24 hours during a Forest Hills tourney in New York's summer heat and humidity. But there are also a lot of memories of near-perfect conditions. So make sure to enjoy those, and check out the pics:
Comes to mind: wind, cold, darkness, and rain on wet omni-courts in Ireland, or 8.5 hours of tennis within 24 hours during a Forest Hills tourney in New York's summer heat and humidity. But there are also a lot of memories of near-perfect conditions. So make sure to enjoy those, and check out the pics:
Hint: Click through to the album for descriptions and locations.
Bag check, reloaded
If you have access to the Tennis Channel, you've probably seen countless episodes of "Bag Check". For those of you who can't view TC: "Bag Check" are short video clips in which pros reveal what's in their bag.
Usually, there are 5-10 items shown: racquets, shoes, clothes, and maybe a couple little surprises. Sometimes it appears as if the pros would just take that bag on court and are prepared to last through the next match. I'm sure the pros travel with more bags full of tennis stuff, plus the tournaments provide them with many necessities and amenities which non-pros don't enjoy.
So what should we have in our bag to play a serious match or two? I've compiled a checklist for you below that I'll keep updating over time. I know the list is a bit long, but it always helps me to skim over it before I go play - I usually find 1-2 things that forgot to pack!
Open this sheet in a new window for the full view. Oh, and don't forget the Banana Guards :)
Usually, there are 5-10 items shown: racquets, shoes, clothes, and maybe a couple little surprises. Sometimes it appears as if the pros would just take that bag on court and are prepared to last through the next match. I'm sure the pros travel with more bags full of tennis stuff, plus the tournaments provide them with many necessities and amenities which non-pros don't enjoy.
So what should we have in our bag to play a serious match or two? I've compiled a checklist for you below that I'll keep updating over time. I know the list is a bit long, but it always helps me to skim over it before I go play - I usually find 1-2 things that forgot to pack!
Open this sheet in a new window for the full view. Oh, and don't forget the Banana Guards :)
Put it away now!
Playing a lot of balls back and forth in practice gives you confidence, feel, and muscle memory, all important when it counts in a big match. However, there are not a lot of players who practice winning shots together. And I think you should - you'll need them to finish off your well-earned points in matchplay!
If you consider practicing winners with your partner, just make sure to give them a heads-up, and return the favor if they are interested. Also play with at least 6 balls so that you're spending more time practicing than picking up balls :)
Here are a few examples of giving your partner a few good hits, and then practicing put-aways when the right moment comes:
Backhand volley put-away:
Forehand volley put-away:
Forehand volley drop shot put-away:
Kneeling overhead put-away - take advantage of mishits, too!
If you consider practicing winners with your partner, just make sure to give them a heads-up, and return the favor if they are interested. Also play with at least 6 balls so that you're spending more time practicing than picking up balls :)
Here are a few examples of giving your partner a few good hits, and then practicing put-aways when the right moment comes:
Backhand volley put-away:
Forehand volley put-away:
Forehand volley drop shot put-away:
Kneeling overhead put-away - take advantage of mishits, too!
Send him an angle
This rallye is a good example of increasingly putting pressure on the opponent, opening up the court, and then closing out the point with an angled cross-court volley:
Taming stubborn grommets
If your racquet gets strung quite often, you'll likely see your grommets start wearing out after a while. At that point it's a good idea to invest a few dollars and replace them, so your frame will remain protected and your string won't break near the holes due to increased friction. Grommets are quite easy to get from places like Tennis Warehouse for $6 or so.
If you would like to replace the grommets yourself, you might run into a few little challenges. So here are a couple of tips for replacing your grommets to save you some time.
First of all, you can carefully use a dull knife as a lever to remove your existing grommets. If some of your grommets got torn apart on the inside of the frame and give you a hard time, use a string cutter or strong scissors to cut them off. Once your existing grommets are gone, make use of the opportunity and clean your naked racquet frame from any dirt that has accumulated over the past months (or years)!
For your new grommets, you might experience one of the following scenarios:
1 - You're lucky and they snap right right.
You're pretty much done :)
2 - They fit pretty well - you see the holes peaking through and they just need a little extra encouragement.
Try pulling 2 strings at the same time to snap them in all the way. Start by hand, then with lower tension. When the plastic starts making its way through, try carefully pulling individual strings, again first at lower tension, and when things look good, pull as normal.
3 - No matter how hard you try, you can't seem to fit your new grommets through all the frame holes.
This happened to me recently and it can be quite nerve wrecking! It was not a problem at all to replace the side grommets, however I was not able to fit the top band. I tried starting from either side, from the middle, pulled the middle of the band, worked the plastic, heated up the plastic with a hair dryer (probably not a good idea!), pulled the holes in by hand and then with a stringing machine, tried to push them through with an ale, cleaned out the frame holes etc etc. All in all, I spent 2-3 hours on this, and finally gave up. This was extra frustrating since I frequently replaced grommets in a sports store many years and never had a problem.
After emailing Tennis Warehouse, they informed me that they had issues with fitting some Prince grommets, especially on the Speedport Black (I play the Tour). I didn't want to give up nor wait for new grommets, so I asked a couple of my most gear-savvy tennis buddies. They recommended warming up the grommets in the oven for a few minutes, and then quickly working them into the frame. At first, I was a bit concerned about releasing toxic gases in a closed environment that is frequently used for making food :)
But I did give it a shot and started slowly - I went for less than 5 minutes at 200 degrees fahrenheit, placed the grommets on some alu foil in a way that they could "breathe", and frequently checked to make sure there was no funny smell or even melting going on.
After a few minutes, I took out grommets out and pulled them trough the holes by hand with a couple of strings - and FINALLY, after some back and forth, they all came through!
I then aired out the oven for an hour or so just to make sure, and then proceeded with scenario 2. I was quite excited that my trial and a lot of error eventually paid off!
If you would like to replace the grommets yourself, you might run into a few little challenges. So here are a couple of tips for replacing your grommets to save you some time.
First of all, you can carefully use a dull knife as a lever to remove your existing grommets. If some of your grommets got torn apart on the inside of the frame and give you a hard time, use a string cutter or strong scissors to cut them off. Once your existing grommets are gone, make use of the opportunity and clean your naked racquet frame from any dirt that has accumulated over the past months (or years)!
For your new grommets, you might experience one of the following scenarios:
1 - You're lucky and they snap right right.
You're pretty much done :)
2 - They fit pretty well - you see the holes peaking through and they just need a little extra encouragement.
Try pulling 2 strings at the same time to snap them in all the way. Start by hand, then with lower tension. When the plastic starts making its way through, try carefully pulling individual strings, again first at lower tension, and when things look good, pull as normal.
3 - No matter how hard you try, you can't seem to fit your new grommets through all the frame holes.
This happened to me recently and it can be quite nerve wrecking! It was not a problem at all to replace the side grommets, however I was not able to fit the top band. I tried starting from either side, from the middle, pulled the middle of the band, worked the plastic, heated up the plastic with a hair dryer (probably not a good idea!), pulled the holes in by hand and then with a stringing machine, tried to push them through with an ale, cleaned out the frame holes etc etc. All in all, I spent 2-3 hours on this, and finally gave up. This was extra frustrating since I frequently replaced grommets in a sports store many years and never had a problem.
After emailing Tennis Warehouse, they informed me that they had issues with fitting some Prince grommets, especially on the Speedport Black (I play the Tour). I didn't want to give up nor wait for new grommets, so I asked a couple of my most gear-savvy tennis buddies. They recommended warming up the grommets in the oven for a few minutes, and then quickly working them into the frame. At first, I was a bit concerned about releasing toxic gases in a closed environment that is frequently used for making food :)
But I did give it a shot and started slowly - I went for less than 5 minutes at 200 degrees fahrenheit, placed the grommets on some alu foil in a way that they could "breathe", and frequently checked to make sure there was no funny smell or even melting going on.
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| From Gear |
After a few minutes, I took out grommets out and pulled them trough the holes by hand with a couple of strings - and FINALLY, after some back and forth, they all came through!
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| From Gear |
I then aired out the oven for an hour or so just to make sure, and then proceeded with scenario 2. I was quite excited that my trial and a lot of error eventually paid off!
Say hello to the racquet end
Reminding myself of how to hold the racquet seems a bit bizarre to me after more than a quarter century of playing tennis :) We're not talking huge adjustments though, maybe a centimeter or two up or down the grip. But it's worth paying attention to that from time to time.
It determines how much control you have, how easily you can swing and accelerate the racquet head, and most importantly how far away the racquet sweet spot is from you. (Finding the right distance to the sweet spot is also important when switching racquets.) Also, you'll find that making micro adjustments can sometimes improve your game on certain days, for example if your string is too bouncy or your arm feels tight.
Last weekend, I re-discovered what position feels most natural to me. I quickly took a picture of it so that I can check back later if needed :)
As you can see, I like holding the racquet quite far down, but in a way that I can still get my hand behind my ground strokes and volleys. I now feel natural racquet acceleration for all my shots again, and most of all I I'm feeling the sweet spot again! Sweet! I wonder what would happen if Zina Garrison gave that a shot :)
It determines how much control you have, how easily you can swing and accelerate the racquet head, and most importantly how far away the racquet sweet spot is from you. (Finding the right distance to the sweet spot is also important when switching racquets.) Also, you'll find that making micro adjustments can sometimes improve your game on certain days, for example if your string is too bouncy or your arm feels tight.
Last weekend, I re-discovered what position feels most natural to me. I quickly took a picture of it so that I can check back later if needed :)
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| From Grips |
As you can see, I like holding the racquet quite far down, but in a way that I can still get my hand behind my ground strokes and volleys. I now feel natural racquet acceleration for all my shots again, and most of all I I'm feeling the sweet spot again! Sweet! I wonder what would happen if Zina Garrison gave that a shot :)
A little step can make a big difference
If you have a baseline winner in your pocket, you can set an exclamation mark when your opponent feeds you a shorter ball. After a calm setup, make sure you step into the court to take the ball early. That'll take time away from your opponent, and put additional power on the ball.
Here's an example of a backhand crosscourt winner:
Here's an example of a backhand crosscourt winner:
Go bananas!
Bananas have been very popular amongst tennis players for quite a while. I vividly remember Michael Chang going through bunch after bunch on his way to winning the French Open in '89. Bananas are high in potassium, provide sustainable energy, and are quite easily digestible thanks to their mushy texture. That mushy texture provides a challenge for tennis players though - how do you keep bananas from getting all squeezed up in your bag?
This eternal question was answered for me on a rainy evening at a German Christmas market in Dublin, Ireland :) There was a booth exclusively selling "Banana Guards". Any color you can imagine, even ones that glow in the dark. Obviously, I've received a lot of comments about the shape, but hey, they supposedly work for more than 95% of bananas, so they stay in my bag!
This eternal question was answered for me on a rainy evening at a German Christmas market in Dublin, Ireland :) There was a booth exclusively selling "Banana Guards". Any color you can imagine, even ones that glow in the dark. Obviously, I've received a lot of comments about the shape, but hey, they supposedly work for more than 95% of bananas, so they stay in my bag!
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| From Gear |
If you can't change the surface, change something else
Each Sunday morning at 10am, I'm playing with a few friends on the courts right in front of my apartment complex in New York, which is obviously super convenient. Playing there is also relatively cheap - you just need a $100 pass for the year, plus a $20 annual club membership fee that guarantees us the court for 2 hours. Since just a single hour of court time can cost that much in NYC (or even more than that!), it can't get much better than this.
There's one challenge however: the courts are hard courts, and they are really hard. Basically nicely painted concrete. That's not only tough on the body, but it also seems that the balls slide more than they bounce. Hitting the ball feels somewhat like hitting a stone with a wooden plank! Our rallies usually max out at 4-5 shots, and we tend to get pretty sore from playing. As a result, I soon decided that those courts won't ever be fun to play on.
Over time though, we figured out how to improve our experience by adjusting the other variables of the game:
Balls - This made the biggest difference. Playing in Germany for more than 20 years, I had been in love with Dunlop Tournament balls. They had simply been the best playing balls for decades. I disliked most other balls because in comparison, they felt too light, small, and felt-less. So coming to New York, I stuck to Dunlops for the first year or so. On this particular surface though, it made sense to try softer and lighter balls. We finally settled for Pro Penn ATP balls, and even liked them better if they had already been played once before, which made them more fluffy. That gave us a better bounce, more pleasant feel on contact, and longer rallies.
Strings - If your racquet suddenly feels a lot stiffer playing on a different court, it might make sense to try lowering the string tension. A couple of pounds can already make a big difference. If you happen to play on these kinds of courts often, you might even go for a softer string, such as a natural gut, or some of the softer multi-filaments or feel-oriented polys. Maybe try a (different) dampener too...
Grips - When you deal with an unpredictable or low and fast bounce, try using a new overgrip every time you play. That dollar is definitely a good investment if you feel and play a lot better. A new overgrip can soften the impact, and literally gives you a better grip while swinging loosely.
Effort - Speaking of swinging loosely, it's easy to tighten up when you play on a surface that you don't like, or when you feel that you need to work extra hard to transfer energy to the ball. As you might know, trying extra hard usually has the opposite effect - you put in more effort for less outcome. So stay loose - use your other hand to support the racquet between shots, hold your racquet in a way that someone could take it out of your hand when you swing it - and then adjust your tightness level a bit from there if necessary.
Forehand and backhand grips - If the ball comes to you fast and low, you might want to consider opening your grips a little. Or even a lot, and see what happens. When I step on those slippery hard courts for example, I always remind myself of the more open grips I used when I was teaching, and start out that way. This makes me a lot more relaxed and consistent out there. No use in overpowering or adding tons of spin anyway! Same might go for volleys, by the way - if the ball stays low most of the time, most of the volleys you hit will be low too. Experimenting with different grips can also help to make you a more versatile player, who can adjust to different conditions when it counts (or when you would like to have some more fun!)
Attitude - Last but not least, I don't expect to play good tennis on these courts anymore. I see them as a convenient option that allows me to see friends, have a workout, and get some hitting in. All things to be grateful for. With such a positive mindset and such low expectations, it will be hard be disappointed :)
So all in all, having a good time on those slippery concrete courts took some adjustments on multiple levels. And while I still don't love playing on those courts, we all now have a much better time.
There's one challenge however: the courts are hard courts, and they are really hard. Basically nicely painted concrete. That's not only tough on the body, but it also seems that the balls slide more than they bounce. Hitting the ball feels somewhat like hitting a stone with a wooden plank! Our rallies usually max out at 4-5 shots, and we tend to get pretty sore from playing. As a result, I soon decided that those courts won't ever be fun to play on.
Over time though, we figured out how to improve our experience by adjusting the other variables of the game:
Balls - This made the biggest difference. Playing in Germany for more than 20 years, I had been in love with Dunlop Tournament balls. They had simply been the best playing balls for decades. I disliked most other balls because in comparison, they felt too light, small, and felt-less. So coming to New York, I stuck to Dunlops for the first year or so. On this particular surface though, it made sense to try softer and lighter balls. We finally settled for Pro Penn ATP balls, and even liked them better if they had already been played once before, which made them more fluffy. That gave us a better bounce, more pleasant feel on contact, and longer rallies.
Strings - If your racquet suddenly feels a lot stiffer playing on a different court, it might make sense to try lowering the string tension. A couple of pounds can already make a big difference. If you happen to play on these kinds of courts often, you might even go for a softer string, such as a natural gut, or some of the softer multi-filaments or feel-oriented polys. Maybe try a (different) dampener too...
Grips - When you deal with an unpredictable or low and fast bounce, try using a new overgrip every time you play. That dollar is definitely a good investment if you feel and play a lot better. A new overgrip can soften the impact, and literally gives you a better grip while swinging loosely.
Effort - Speaking of swinging loosely, it's easy to tighten up when you play on a surface that you don't like, or when you feel that you need to work extra hard to transfer energy to the ball. As you might know, trying extra hard usually has the opposite effect - you put in more effort for less outcome. So stay loose - use your other hand to support the racquet between shots, hold your racquet in a way that someone could take it out of your hand when you swing it - and then adjust your tightness level a bit from there if necessary.
Forehand and backhand grips - If the ball comes to you fast and low, you might want to consider opening your grips a little. Or even a lot, and see what happens. When I step on those slippery hard courts for example, I always remind myself of the more open grips I used when I was teaching, and start out that way. This makes me a lot more relaxed and consistent out there. No use in overpowering or adding tons of spin anyway! Same might go for volleys, by the way - if the ball stays low most of the time, most of the volleys you hit will be low too. Experimenting with different grips can also help to make you a more versatile player, who can adjust to different conditions when it counts (or when you would like to have some more fun!)
Attitude - Last but not least, I don't expect to play good tennis on these courts anymore. I see them as a convenient option that allows me to see friends, have a workout, and get some hitting in. All things to be grateful for. With such a positive mindset and such low expectations, it will be hard be disappointed :)
So all in all, having a good time on those slippery concrete courts took some adjustments on multiple levels. And while I still don't love playing on those courts, we all now have a much better time.
String review: Tecnifibre Black Code
I was quite curious when the new Tecnifibre Black Code was announced, supposedly their softest poly yet. Plus it comes in a hexagonal cut, which theoretically puts more bite and thus spin on the ball.
I went for the 1.22mm /17L version. Straight out the box the string already felt quite soft and I found it easy to string. I also like the color on my racquet :)
I strung the Black Code around 22kg / 48lbs, and found that to be a good compromise between feel, power, spin and control. But then I like it a bit softer than most folks, so if I was not me I would try pulling it between 22 and 25kg / 48 and 55lbs - any higher and it might just feel dead.
All in all, I really enjoyed hitting with it. I tested most Luxilons over the last year, and for me the Black Code beats them in every category, maybe except control and arm pain :) Compared to my favorite string I feel a bit more of the ball impact and generate less power, but other than that the Black Code was great. Overall, my second favorite string at the moment, post about my all-time favorite to follow!
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