I often get e-mails about racquets and strings and other various tennis things. I thought I’d share a recent one about pro stock racquets.
“Recently I’m very interested in the topic of professional racquets. Unfortunately, the information I get is more like speculation and rumours. Here are my questions:”
1)
Yes, all racquets have some kind of production code. Both retail and professional. All racquets are pretty much made for commercial purposes to start off. Pro stocks are normally just variations of a retail frame to personalize it to a certain players’ liking. If we take one of the most famous examples: Andy Murray enjoyed the feel of the HEAD Pro Tour 630 (pro stock code PT57A) but wanted a more open string pattern, hence HEAD created the PT57A2 for him. I don’t know any other players who use this pattern with the PT57A, but I’m sure there are a few. I do know that HEAD wants to stop the production of the PT57A, but a few stubborn pro’s still crave that uniquely flexy feel.
If we take HEAD as an example, one of their most popular pro stock racquets is the TGT 293.2 which is basically the pro stock mold of the HEAD IG Prestige MP
There is more mystery around some other pro stocks. For example Novak Djokovic’s racquet which has the code PT113B. What is underneath the paint? Some say it’s some form of Radical, either the Ti Radical or the HEAD LM Radical Tour that he used to play with (2005).
2)
There are some pro stock molds that have so far never been available in retail form. One example is Wilson H22 (their imitation of the HEAD Radical line), but mostly a pro stock is used a “stripped-down” form of a retail racquet. With stripped down I mean ready for customization by a racquet tech. There is no secret material in pro stock tennis racquets. They don’t get technically better racquets, they’re just “empty inside” and then a racquet tech potentially adds silicone or foam in the handle, customizes the grip shape, and adds lead tape to it. This is nothing you can’t do yourself so no real magic involved.
Talking about available pro stock racquets – as you know Wilson finally launched the H19 (imitation of HEAD Prestige) in a retail version called the Wilson Ultra Tour).
3) This question is off topic.
I read somewhere: “….Kuerten’s strike technique is more RADICAL ….” What does this word mean? Could you please explain to me what is meant by the term RADICAL?
I don’t know if “Radical” is a way to describe Guga Kuerten’s technique, but his forehand was definitely more modern than most players when he broke through. He put lots of spin on the ball and was the first top player to really use polyester strings (Luxilon Big Banger
Do you have a question about tennis racquets? It might become a post! Just comment below.
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is quite different than the one that Federer actually uses. I’m not sure if that is true or not, I’m sure Roger has plenty of customization on his frame such as extra lead, a personal grip shape, etc, but the mold is hopefully the same. I would however not be surprised if 
that is lightyears away from what Andy Murray actually plays with!
to the public (okay, I will stop raving about that racquet now).
and the Angell TC 97 Custom. As you know I loved both the Tfight 315 and the Angell TC 97 Custom, but when it comes to playing close to the PT57A, the Angell wins in my opinion. Paul Angell has really managed to find that pocketing feel in his racquets. Kudos to him for that!
and 5 (read the 
during the off-season and he decided to stick with his 
that was specially designed for the HEAD MxG racquets. I have yet to test the string myself, but it is supposed to be a hybrid that takes some of the harshness out of the HEAD MxG – which is a rather stiff racquet.
that Ivanisevic has applied (I mean his racquet tech has applied) to his HEAD MxG. I didn’t try leading up the HEAD MxG racquets myself, but I’m sure they would have played even better with some lead in the handle and at 3 and 9 to increase the stability and the comfort of the racquet. After all, 295 grams unstrung is a very good starting point for customization and this is where most pro stock hairpins weigh before they are modded to the players’ liking.
(St Vincent) has been seen using a Babolat racquet and there are other ex-professionals commenting on how much easier tennis would have been with a lighter racquet with a larger racquet face. Being a traditionalist isn’t always the right choice, sometimes new technology is simply too good.
will be the way to go.
. They are quite similar however, so it does not feel like a complete deception. It is similar with 
line of tennis racquets in its countless different iterations.
Pro, is a bad racquet.
although that is a decent racquet in its own right. 
) and that’s not too hard to find on eBay or racquet forums.
. He likely uses a customized grip and some lead, but the frame is the same. 
