New Federer Racket for 2012

[Rob ITST]

The BLX is different from the KFactor - it has "Basalt" fibers that Wilson claims to improve feel.

The real questions whenever a new racquet technology comes along are: How much difference does it make, and is the difference a good one?

[jayl0ve]

Did anybody catch that Exo on Tennis Channel recently? It was Bryan Bros. vs. Jensen Bros in doubles, with the Bryan Bros having to use wooden racquets.

Bob was still hitting some bombs on his service game. Altogether it didn't look that much different coming off their racquets

Sampras played against Lendl and had to use a wooden racquet...he actually said he hated it But I think that's cuz he was using a cracked frame.

[VillaJ100]

I think you can still hit flat with a similar amount of power with a wooden stick, its just much much harder to do consistently due to the weight and tiny sweet spot. The main difference will be the low amount of spin. The easiest similarity is with regards to serves, phillipousis played a charity match once and was still serving 135 MPH, but he said it made his shoulder sore.

I learned to play with a wooden racket. It wasn't easy at all but then when I got a modern racket when I was 12 I was amazed. I think a wooden racket really helps you build excellent technique and fundamentals due to how unforgiving they are.

[Moralspain]

Did anybody catch that Exo on Tennis Channel recently? It was Bryan Bros. vs. Jensen Bros in doubles, with the Bryan Bros having to use wooden racquets.

Bob was still hitting some bombs on his service game. Altogether it didn't look that much different coming off their racquets

Sampras played against Lendl and had to use a wooden racquet...he actually said he hated it But I think that's cuz he was using a cracked frame.

a Donnay btw

[VillaJ100]

Man playing with modern heavy ass balls must be a nightmare. It's mad to think some badminton rackets are nearly that big

[jayl0ve]

Actually, I didn't think about it but the balls themselves are probably a big reason why it seems like they were coming off the racquet faster than you'd expect, or faster than when pros actually had to use wooden racquets.

John McEnroe's mentioned before that the balls they used to play with back in his day were 'dead' by today's standards and had significantly less pressure, so they came off the racquet a lot slower.

[djarvik]

I learned to play with a wooden racket. It wasn't easy at all but then when I got a modern racket when I was 12 I was amazed. I think a wooden racket really helps you build excellent technique and fundamentals due to how unforgiving they are.

I would argue this to the death. I am pretty sure it actually hurt you more then helped you. There is just no compassing between the modern game and the wooden are, there is a reason for evolution and technique changed a lot. Its not even technology, it is more of a stroke production and top spin.

One also can argue that the smaller sweet spot actually bad for a beginner.

As much as I respect "the wood" .... I am soooo glad we past that!

[VillaJ100]

I learned to play with a wooden racket. It wasn't easy at all but then when I got a modern racket when I was 12 I was amazed. I think a wooden racket really helps you build excellent technique and fundamentals due to how unforgiving they are.

I would argue this to the death. I am pretty sure it actually hurt you more then helped you. There is just no compassing between the modern game and the wooden are, there is a reason for evolution and technique changed a lot. Its not even technology, it is more of a stroke production and top spin.

One also can argue that the smaller sweet spot actually bad for a beginner.

As much as I respect "the wood" .... I am soooo glad we past that!

I see your point but i play pretty old fashioned anyway, with regards to my grips etc. for sure it took me longer to learn than it would have with a modern racket, but when you get the nack of hitting the ball sweet with a tiny spot, when you graduate to a modern racket i thought, man this is crazy easy

[Rob ITST]

I got a chance to see this, and all of Wilson's other racquets today....

First, Federer's racquet is now called the "ProStaff SIX.ONE 90 BLX". There will be 2 other racquets in this line:

The ProStaff SIX.ONE 95 BLX and the ProStaff SIX.ONE 100 BLX. The 95 (my next racquet) will have the same box-shaped frame as Federer's racquet, with an 18mm beam. 16x19 string pattern, 11oz (313g) unstrung, with a strung balance of 7pts headlight.

There will also still be a SIX.ONE line, but this time without the 90. It will have the 95 16x18, 95 18x20, and the 95 Team. These are essentially the same as the current 6.1 racquets, but the 95 Team will now have a 16x18 string pattern.

The Blade racquets will remain unchanged, and the Pro Open and Pro Lite will get cosmetic updates. The Pro Tour will no longer be offered.

Another new line, called "Juice" (think Babolat Pure Drive):

The Pro Juice (Del Potro's new stick), will be 96 sq in, 11.4oz unstrung, 16x20, and 8pt headlight (strung).

The Juice 100: 100 sq in, 10.7 oz (unstrung), 16x18, 4 pt headlight (strung).

There will also be a Juice 108.

There's more, but those are the ones that stick out. The racquets will be released around January.

[RainingAmoeba79]

YA! 95 box beam ftw!

[Rob ITST]

I was also told that Federer will be playing with one of the ProStaffs, not necessarily the 90.....

[RainingAmoeba79]

Pro Staff Six.One 95 BLX
Headsize 95″
Strung Weight 11.6 oz./ 329 g
Length 27″
Unstrung Weight 11 oz./ 313 g
Strung Balance 7 pts. HL
String Pattern 16 x 19
Cross Section 18mm Flat Beam

[Moralspain]

As far as i remember Fed played years ago with that racquet



correct me if i'm wrong guys

Btw: that weight you posted is right? too light no?

[Rob ITST]

No, Federer has played with 2 racquets in his career - the ProStafff 6.0 85, and the one he uses now.

There was a time, before the 90 inch version was released to the public, that they painted his racquet like the 95 sq in Pro Staff - but it was the same racquet he uses today.

The one in the picture you posted is the NCode - I can't remember if they called it the 6.1, the Tour, or the ProStaff, but it's all the same.

[Moralspain]

ok, so paint jobs eh?, btw Rob, have you tried the new Pro Staff 6.0 85?, if so how does it compare with the old version? does it have the same feel?