How was Federer's racquet different from the one sold in stores?
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
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I think Federer's racket change to the larger headsize was absolutely the right call as he aged. It took him a while to adjust to the RF97 but I doubt he would have gotten those last 3 slams if he had stuck with the Tour 90. You especially see with his forehand technique changing over time that his biggest weapons were losing some of their potency anyway as he got older. That, along with the loss of a bit of footspeed and endurance meant he needed to shorten points and shore up weaknesses rather than just expect his big weapons and athleticism to automatically overwhelm people in long exchanges anymore. The Tour 90 is more aerodynamic and perhaps easier for him to generate vicious mean racket head speed on his forehand with, but no one can deny that his backhand was massively helped by the newer equipment. That 2017 season is probably the best his backhand has ever been, and the assistance the bigger head size gave him on that wing was probably worth the fact that he'd never quite hit his forehand like it was 2005 anymore. He's also served tremendously well with the RF97, which is the cornerstone of his game.
I think que took to long to make the change
I feel like if he hadn’t changed his forehand technique from the 2005 one he would have still been able to keep using the tour 90…but still would have been tough in todays game
True words. I wish he had transitioned to a 95 earlier, with his specs, around 2010. And then the 97 at 2014-5 like he did. Smoother transition and compensation.
What I noticed most about his backhand is that he could just hit topspin on the ball to the middle of the court when on the defensive. I always wondered why his opponent didn't just step in and pound the ball but I imagine that they couldn't exactly judge the spin with the short timing window. I have an RF-97 though I don't use it and it's one of the stiffer racquet that I can use. I generally stay under RA62 because of arm issues but the RF-97 is an exception. I love the paintjob on the black RF-97 too. It reminds me a bit of Sampras who said that he should have switched to a bigger frame earlier in his career.
If you had stuck to Tour 90, would you have achieved the last three slams? What the hell do you know? You're a talker, aren't you?
the main difference is that is was used properly ;)
The guy thst made that video clip has good taste in tennis and tennis players. Roger Federer and Marat Safin my two favourite players of all time.
I had heard some statistics that suggested that when Roger switched to the 97 head size he was able to move, on average about 6 feet closer to the baseline. I personally have hit with one of his customized 97 frames and it's beyond different than the retail version. It was easy to swing and it almost felt like the racquet did everything.
was the weight lighter? balanced differently?? I'm extremely curious because the retail 97 really sucked for me, im still struggling to find a replacement for my k factor 90
@@tim_yrt I have no idea how it was set up but it was ridiculously smooth. I think that it was pushing 360 plus grams.
@@tim_yrt swings much nicer with lead under the bumper between 10-2, and a little silicone in the handle (3-6grams depending on your original weight. Night and day with how it swings through the air, before the lead and silicone I hated how it swung through the air so clunky. After it was a lot closer to the ps90 in how smoothly it flew through the air
@@tim_yrt Try Prince Graphite 90
Years ago, remember Vincent Spadea, he was playing with a prince, the oversize, yet again, I hit some balls with his frame and it was the same feeling. Super smooth and the ball just launched. Reality is that tennis racquets off the shelf are simply platforms that need to be tailored to the person who used them. When I buy a suit, I have to get it tailored, same for a tennis racquet. I'm still playing with Slazenger Henman ProBraided, 365 grams, 6 points hl, and any poly that's triangular at 42 pounds is just fine. And in the end, it's not the wand, it's the magician.
I think the ncode 90 gave him more lethal power in forehand than the pro-staff 97.
Loving the expert knowledge on these racquets. Fab video and stuff I'd never seen before. Much appreciated.
It beggars belief though why the retail version of ncode would have a denser pattern in the middle. Surely a tougher racquet for us mere mortals :)
Best looking racket of all time that ncode.
see the Wilson Ultra FPK 85 made for Mandlilkova - I have one - fabulous racket and the blue color dazzles.
That K factor one is for me the best looking racket ever. The boxy shape, the matte finish, that design... it’s just awesome
Thanks for your work, Jonas! My all-time favourite racquet! 😍 I have a few variations as well, including the limited edition Japanese Model, the limited edition Maurice LaCroix model, as well as an nCode 90 with shorter pallet and 4 holes at the PWS. There were also 2 retail versions, one with the W in silver square, one with the red W in black square. Love them all ❤️
Wow, nice collection
It was a world apart different! The frames he used from 2002-2004 were also ever sold in stores. Except for the red Hyper ProStaff 90 sq. which was sold in a very limited number in Europe (or so says the legend).
FYI: Federer used a pain job of the ProStaff 85 as a red Hammer for a few months in 2002, but switched to the 90 sq. inch version just before RG
Not directly related to Federer's frame, but I find it intriguing the differences in paint not just regarding gloss/matte but in other smaller details, like one including the string pattern written out around "ncode six one" and a red/black Wilson logo on the throat, while another one has the black and silver logo, but no string pattern. I found these same type of differences in 2 six one 95 ncodes I bought because I like the frame and enjoy playing with it. At first I thought I might have gotten a fake racket but other details (both have the same foam grip code under the grip, which makes no sense for a fake to go into that detail) and the playability once grips/overgrips have been matched makes me think both are original, just from different countries/batches.
I own and tried out all the PS90s, just for collections sake. But the nCode 90 turned out to be my favourite, and I use a few nCode 90s for my training and matches.
I actually have an Asian nCode 90 too, with the intention of someday matching it to Federer's specs as an experiment.
I became aware of all the differences between the retail racket and Rogers racket, but to be honest I prefer these little differences on the retail version. I guess it's because I'm not Federer, so something different suits me better.
Hi, sorry for popping up from the blue, but is there a chance to buy one? maybe the asian version, if that's the one you don't use (from what I understood)
Thank you!
I don't know about the RF97, but I do know that Fed's prostock 90 was much more flexible than the retail one and had a much higher swing weight. So custom carbon and a custom build. RA was 58. I have a prostock 90 with an RA of 58 and it is very muted and low powered.
Federer, he used his models with a bunch of led on the racquet head...Maybe he had this helping him?
My ncode has 4 holes too but it is the six one 95...18x20 cause I like to party. Paid about $60 on the bay
I have a China Prostaff 6.0 85 sq/in , Wilson Jack Kramer Staff 85 same Mould as St Vincent and a Wilson Ultra 2 85 Sq/in all 3 of them rackets have 4 Holes @ PWS
magical! You can see a thumbnail of prime Fed and you instantly feel goatness!
Who do you think will be the new face for the pro staff? Will someone else have their own version of a commercially available pro stock spec racquet?
Good question! I think Fed will still be an image of the Pro Staff, but maybe they will try to put it in the hands (as a cosmetic possibly) of some up-and-coming talent, we will see.
@@Tennisnerd I am thinking they might force a player to use a Pro Staff model actually using a Pro Staff even if not the same model as player is endorsing because of lawsuits in the past and watch top 20 player suffer becuse Racquet was wrong for player.
I do appreciate this type of video
What is the official grip size? A lot of people claim that Federer's grip is between a L2 and L3. What's the truth?
He had a L 2.5 or a 4 & 2/5 in size from most accounts
Lead tape?
for the RF97, No difference.... you can buy his weapon in the store
I spoke to guys who worked with him on his Autograph RF97
He exclusively wanted that you can buy his frame.
Still has a different handle/pallet. 👎
It's a half-truth. Federer layup is not as stiff as the retail version especially in the hoop. Even Federer himself mentioned the similarity of the retail and pro version ONLY in terms of weight and balance, not layup.
the mold is the same, yes, but you cannot make Fed specs off an RF97. there is a video of it on here somewhere.
Swing weights?!?
Interesting. I had an Asian spec k90 - one of the lighter ones. I regret selling it haha
What swing weight does Roger use? Is it really only 333 like in the retail RF97?
Exactly. Was expecting more data; Brit kept droning on about the string density in the center (PWR). Also should have taken the grip off - heard his pallet/end cap is different material not just shorter.
Tennis Spin has a video with one of Roger's 2015 rackets and measured the swingweight on screeen. Result was 345. It was also about 5g heavier than stock overall, so maybe just a little bit of lead under the bumper guard.
If I had access to this I would’ve measured it and shared in the video. Will try and ask around people I know if they have this type of machine.
Grip seize?
I rather if you guys tap the frame of Roger's racket to see if it's hollow. Consumers racket would have hollow and foam as the core. If I were a rich pro player i would have a solid core frame to reduce vibration if somehow mishit. Also not just using foam as the core. Reason why consumers racket are hollow and foamed up is to reduce the cost and to mass produce. The racket have to cost 50 dollar to make and then sell it for 200 dollar, this is how they could keep on making money. If they do actually make a pro racket and sell them in store then people would stop buying. But tennis is also evolving with new techs. New racket will be made just like a phone every year. Anyways this is not the point. The point I want to know is IS Roger racket Solid around. Even if that racket was from Federer but is it really HIS. Or is it just a consumer racket that Federer is using and gave it away but not HIS actual Racket material frame. Roger racket would definitely be solid around there will never be vibration. Like I say, if I were a rich pro tennis player, racket I would be creating for myself is a solid core racket. I have never play a wood racket but wood racket do have solid core. I think it would somehow be like a wood racket. I'm just talking about the frame and handle core. So everything all solid and weighs 12 oz, that would be a Pro racket. Although once in a while pro can still play around with consumers racket. You and I know there is no way Roger is playing with a consumer racket in a real match, lol.
I do not think that is a problem. Pro players all used consumer racquets before they were famous and sponsored (or even after). Take Alcaraz (Stock VS 98), Fritz (2014 Radical) or even Yonex players where the composition of consumer and pro stocks are close, they seem to be playing fine with it. For Roger, I think if it works for him, it doesn't matter if its foamed or not, plus as he said in a recent interview, Wilson sends him tons of racquet (60+ per year, he brings 12 for each swing), so "durability" of the racquet flex is not a problem as well.
No wonder i can't play like Roger Federer.
Good topic when you can get pro sticks. But have to get the stick yourself so you can show the specs - this guy is obviously just another rich Fed fanboy hacker who doesn’t know what specs to show. Droned on about the string density at the PWS - ok, we got it. Where’s the balance pt?
Also, wanted to see the pallet w/o the grip. There was a famous NY Times article about 10 yrs ago - claimed there was a lot more different- a notch for 1 of his fingers. Apparently Wilson (and probably Fed’s team) forced them to edit that out in a day or two. Wilson was still lying in their marketing that it was exactly the same as the public one.
PS - yes, Fed was stubborn and wouldn’t chg and wouldn’t get aggressive until much later in his career. Fed in 08-12 when RN and ND challenged him would have been better able to fight them. Also still doesn’t move far enough left when returning against Nadal.
Hi Mark,
I wish I was rich but I got very lucky with the rackets. You are right, I’m a Federer fan, hacker? Not at all.
In terms of the other details you mention, I don’t have the equipment to hand or in possession to show you the balance point.
As for the pallet, which racket were you referring to? The ncode or the BLX. For obvious reasons the BLX would not have any of the grips taken off.
So in terms of other info/specs you would like to see, what are they (with the exception of the pallet that you refer too).
Happy to share this with TennisNerd if I have the right tools at my disposal.
Also, slightly changing the subject, I think Leyton Hewitt was the first ‘whistle blower’ in terms of pros not using the rackets that consumers can purchase off the shelf. If memory serves it was an article back in 2004 or thereabouts.
Until then, have a good weekend.
In response to the main question regarding the change, I think Federer should’ve moved to the slightly larger frame earlier than he did but at least he did unlike Sampras who didn’t switch until he retired. I also believe Federer should’ve flattened out his backhand a touch more when playing Nadal.
First!
Federer is good however there were not many good impressive players he should have played. We won’t know how really good until a few more years to be determined
Uhhh what are you saying? Today’s era is by far weaker than Federer’s era
@@initialize21 nope that’s not what the market shows
@@AnhBui-zp1ee dude, I feel you make have it a bit backwards. Nadal, Murray, Djokovic. And they are all Still active and getting wins to this day despite aging as well, and having to change their game due to accumulated injuries.
For comparison’s sake per your original comment, 2008 Nadal would still be a top ten player in todays game. And it’s not a stretch to say 2005-2009 era Federer could stand a great chance at being #1 ranked ATP player in current rankings today.
Making either of these two a decade and a half younger, to match the “next Gen” players, and the next Gen players wouldn’t fair too well. The other two members of the big four, and other top players of the era would have earned more slams and made it seem more unpredictable in your eyes if they aforementioned two weren’t so dominant.
@@darricks2775 not even close to Pete Sampras or Agassi. They are more consistent
@@AnhBui-zp1ee as much as I admire and respect Sampras’ game, and actually use his PS85 St. Vincent racket often, I’m not sure what you mean by consistent. Both in their prime would have great head-to-heads on hardcourt and grass, but Sampras wasn’t as comfortable or accomplished on clay. But on other surfaces they’d be close fun matches to watch. And wether you’re talking about 1995 Agassi, or 2000 Agassi, I see him possibly giving Federer a hard time on hardcourt, but still not having the same level of stamina (again if both in their prime), and Fed still easily coming out on top on the other two surfaces.
I'm not interested. No big difference.