Emma Raducanu is playing in Madrid this week and a stringer posted Raducanu’s racquet specs. Possibly inadvertently.
Thanks to Alex Grant for sharing the pics from @racketspec on Instagram. As I’ve talked about in my previous content about Raducanu’s racquet, she is using a Wilson Steam 100 BLX. But Raducanu’s racquet specs were not well known until now. Her racquet is painted to look like a Blade 98 16×19 and her unstrung specifications are: 305g unstrung, 286 swing weight, 31.5 cm balance point. If you add strings and over grip, you’re looking at something like (approximating here, it depends on the string of course) 328g, 318 SW and 32.3 cm balance point.
It’s a fairly light spec for a pro player, but you see these types of lighter racquets more frequently on the WTA Tour. I’ve actually been asked many times to do more content about WTA Tour players because that’s what most mere mortal tennis players should use. I will do my best to hunt down some more WTA player specs for you and if you have any to share, please post in the comments or message me on Instagram.
What can we learn from Raducanu’s specs
WTA players tend to use lighter racquets, so nothing really new or shocking there.
Most club level players should use racquets with lighter specs than they do. It’s nothing wrong with a heavy Prestige if you love the feel and can generate your own power, but it shouldn’t be a “macho” thing. Powerful, lighter racquets can help you get free depth and spin on your shots, which will help your tennis.
Just beware that some light and powerful racquets are know to create more tennis elbow problems. It’s not always the case and depends heavily on the string and the player’s technique, but it’s good to be aware of.
I’ve ranked some of my favorite power racquets here.
7 comments
Emma seems to have changed her racquet for Wimbledon. Any idea what it is?
Doesn’t she have 4″ lead strips on the sides of her racket frame?
Wouldn’t that make her racket quite a bit heavier than spec’d here?
I dont think she is using a standard length racket either. From the match with Shelby Rogers, Mary Carillo was talking about how she took a year off to work on her game and how her coach changed her serve and forehand but also convinced her to use a longer racquet as well. She’s probably customized it to 27.1 or 27.25 in length
Yep, came here to find out about that. Andrew Richardson changer her racket to the longer version before her US open win
No, those aren’t lead strips. Pro’s get their rackets made specifically for them, and lead is not added afterwards. Thats a feature you see at local tennis clubs, but pros will have 10 or more rackets and won’t want to be checking if the lead is exactly the same on every one.
What are you talking about? Where did you get this information from? Lead is always added afterward. Just ask any customizer or company. Just look at Novak’s frames up close, and you will see the lead tape in the same space on each racquet.
I was wondering if the string type and racket composition are leading to a rash of wrist and arm injuries? My son recently had surgery from the same surgeon that had worked on Tracy Austin’s son Brandon, their injuries were not identical but somewhat related. Jensen Brooksby, Korda, Theim, and now Radacanu are all suffering? Any ideas why?