Our Tennis Thread

by **Rob ITST** » Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:00

The difference in sweet spot size, and in the usable hitting area, are small; the difference in power is a bit more significant.

But the biggest difference is how much you can close the racquet face, and not hit the frame. This is an interesting article about that concept: The inch that changed tennis forever

This illustration from the article shows how you could close the face on a modern racquet by 35 degrees, and still have the same margin for error you had with a vertical face on a wood racquet:

by **Sherlock 117** » Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:26

jayl0ve wrote:Hey MiTrenz where do you live, in the US? You gonna play some USTA tournaments?? I'm thinking of doing the same thing this summer too.

Definitely love playing the USTA tournaments. I play about 12 a summer and 4 or 5 in the fall/winter. I won a 4.0 clay court tournament last summer!

by **tigerofintegrity** » Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:43

I think the best way to describe my game is probably an all-round unorthodox style. Somewhat like a one-handed backhand version of Dolgopolov I guess? I'm not sure how to classify my style really as I do everything and at anytime in a match. I'm the only person I know who sometimes runs around the forehand to smack a flat backhand! I guess I play unpredictably because often even I don't know what I'm going to do next until it happens.

by **jayl0ve** » Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:40

I have a bad temper to be completely honest. That's the type of player I am. Not fun to play, I take it quite seriously :lol:

I wasn't nicknamed 'Johnny Mac' by my college tennis coach for my drop volleys... :lol:

by **TomBs** » Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:55

Been a couple of weeks ago, but to come back to my issue
http://intertopspintour.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13518&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=120

Getting my rackets restrung this week. Just called the shop, and found out that I'm currently playing with a combination of Head Sonic Pro (length) and Head C3 Rocket (width). Any thoughts? Rob?

Appreciate it

by **Rob ITST** » Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:14

Those aren't bad strings or anything, so the real question is how do you want your new strings to be different from your current strings?

Things like:

Durability - Do you want more, are you willing to sacrifice some for playability, do you want about the same?

Feel - Do you want softer, stiffer, or maybe just experiment to try something different?

Spin - How important is that to you? If you want more spin, would you rather sacrifice power or durability (textured strings give you more spin, but if you want to keep them soft you give up some durability).

Power/control - Do you want something with more power,more control, or about the same? Generally, more power will be a softer string, more control will be stiffer.

by **TomBs** » Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:21

No problem. My shots are quite flat really. Using the Wilson K six.one (95 sq in). I like using the power the opponent gives me, but if I don't get any I can blast a forehand to them.

The racket I'm currently playing with (broke the Head strings in my other racket) still has the original Wilson stringing in it. I must say I really like it. The problem with it is that it's quite expensive, if I'm not mistaken.

I find it hard to say what the real problem is with my current strings, I just don't like the feel of them. I know that's really vague

It's like they're a bit too soft.

by **Rob ITST** » Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:39

You'd probably like the string I put in more racquets than anything else - plain old Prince Synthetic Gut with Duraflex. It's not too soft, not too stiff, has average durability, holds it's tension well, and is inexpensive. It's not great at anything, but pretty good at everything.

I'd be interested in what Wilson string you have right now. If it's an expensive Wilson string, then it's probably NXT or Sensation - the problem is, those are actually softer than your Head strings, which you think may be too soft. :lol:

That makes me think it may be tension you like with the Wilson strings.

One thing I like to do when trying to narrow down what someone likes, is to change one thing at a time. So, here's my official recommendation: Get the exact same string you got last time (the Head hybrid), but get it strung about 5 pounds tighter. The worst thing that will happen is that it's too stiff, but it will loosen up, and you'll get a lot of information about what it is you like or don't like.

by **TomBs** » Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:46

Found the type on the string. It's the Wilson Sensation 16 ABT 23-07 (don't pin me down on the ABT part, tough to read). Can it be that it's thinner than those Head strings? Like I said previously on 24 those Head strings unravel very quickly. It's much of an outer layer and an inner layer it seems, something I don't like about the feel of that.

Problem with trying out is that I'll be playing this season for a few months, but then probably won't be playing for nearly a year

Well, hopefully I'll snap it if I don't like it

Edit: Could get different strings for each racket of course. Although that sucks when you have to change...

by **Rob ITST** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:22

If the two racquets are identical, then you could just ask your stringer to give you the same Wilson string. He won't be able to get exactly the same tension, but he should be able to get close.

Sensation should be too expensive - here it's just about $5 more than a basic synthetic gut.

BTW:

TomBs wrote:previously on 24

by **jayl0ve** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:07

Sorry to break up the string talk but MAN I hit with my friend today and I don't know if I've ever hit the ball as cleanly and powerful off the ground as I did today! My 2 hand BH was unstoppable, I seriously think I made 90% of my BH's in the court the whole 2 hours. On top of that I was just crushing the ball and coming up with some crazy angles. I love you Luxilon! :lol:

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I just got glasses today and I have been glasses-less for the past 6 months :lol:

I'm seeing the ball so much better...literally

by **Coolhand Texas** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:27

Im pretty sure your glasses have something to do with it. I play like shit without my contacts

by **Rob ITST** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:13

I couldn't even attempt to play tennis without my contacts - I'd have trouble getting out of the house without them.

by **jayl0ve** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:06

Rob, you know how you said the best way to tell if something (racquet, strings, etc) is making a difference in your shots is to get somebody you hit with a lot and see if they say anything??

The guy I hit with today (one of my best friends) said my groundstrokes were jumping off the court a lot more than usual with the TiMO's I use now.

I have to agree with him, I am getting a ton of spin with these strings, the ball is really exploding off the court. It's awesome!

by **VillaJ100** » Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:15

Haha I lost to my friend once in a really close match on clay and said his contacts were a technological advantage and just because he has crap eyes is no excuse to use enhancements

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