Federer's new racquet experiment!

Rumours, just a new paint job, of fan talk? You decide.

http://www.rogerfedererfans.com/forum/topic/1511-pics-from-roger-federers-practise-sessions-and-press-conference-at-hamburg/

Unless my eyes deceive me, I think they may be new socks too!

The hitting partner is an older model though.

Stand by for a gigantic "told him this3 years ago" from Lydian, if this is true,

I'd be delighted if so. He's been playing with a handicap for too long now,just stubborn.

It looks like the blade 93 to me... some one his website are saying blade 98- but that would be a drastic change with such a short turnaround time.

No way it's a paintjob-- Wilson pays him a ton of money to play with the PRoStaff in the same colors they sell to the public, so why paint that to look like a Blade....    and if it's a blade, then Wilson will keep that looking the same so they can then promote the Blade. The frame on the Blade is slightly different than the ProStaff and you can see it in the picture as well.

He's going to get a bit more pop with the 93, and a bit more forgiveness if he misses the sweetspot..   I just wonder how it holds up under extreme pressure though--  Like a Golfer, these guys at the top can play with any equipment but are also creatures of habit--  it shows up under pressure.. any little "wonder" in their head can cause a mishit...  IF Fed is serving in a crunch moment or facing a break point- will his mind wander to the different in racquet feel? IF so, that's a problem.

We've seen guys like Djokovic struggle for months when truly changing racquets...  so there has to be  a transition.. I just hope Federer isn't damaging his US Open campaign by trying to cram a change in a relatively short time period.

He may have requested Gstaad and Hamburg so he can get some match time with the new toy.

About time! The loss to Stakhovsky told him to change...he also said "within 48 hrs of losing I had a clear plan of what to do...to go to Hamburg and Gstaad". This is because he knew he simply had to change racquets to compete with the other top 4-5 guys who all use 98-100inch racquets.

This is the REAL reason he entered 2 CLAY events post-Wimb...to groove a new larger head racquet through extended rallying.

Doubt it's the actual Blade family, much too stiff and lacking feel for Fed. Suspect it's a custom racquet by Wilson for Federer personally and they'll have been working on it for a few months too. Looks like a relatively dense string pattern (19x16) so onus on control than spin...that will come more from the reduced weight anyway. It may be somewhere between a PS and Blade, but nearer the Blade, and between 95-98 inches and 20-30 grams lighter. The much bigger sweetspot should reduce the shanks and give his shots more margin. It will ease the strain on his back on serve too. String choice will be key too...he may go looser for added power and spin than his current spec.

Once he likes the racquet Wilson will spray it up and a new model will be born for the masses. Smart move for Federer and Wilson. It'll take Fed a long time to adjust though after all these years on a 90PS...maybe 2 tournaments

What, just in time for a glorious comeback at the US Open?  

Incidentally, I'm not ruling it out

Indeed...The Inglorious Bastad, er, Gstaad!

BTW, he looks leaner/fitter to me too...this guy still means business folks, he's not planning on retirement any time soon from these changes!

Good. I've no issue with Roger winning a Slam - now Andy's got a couple!!

lydian wrote:Indeed...The Inglorious Bastad, er, Gstaad!

BTW, he looks leaner/fitter to me too...this guy still means business folks, he's not planning on retirement any time soon from these changes!

Have you been keeping an eye on him recently, lydian? Credit to you - as BB says, you've been mentioning this necessity for many years, and a few of us (LK, BB, us and others) have discussed it on the forum before. Will be very very interesting to see what happens from here. I'm pretty excited if what you're saying about his fitness is true.

I can't help but get excited at the thought of another Indian Summer. I guess we've just got to be patient and accept there might be a few nasty results early on though.

It's a great thought if he really could come back. The brilliant thing about the ranking system is that you're only 12 months from any ranking your next 12 months earns. What's gone before today will truly be gone by then.

Cheers silver. It's hard to be categorical but these 2 pics for me show him leaner and somehow fitter looking...what do you think? PS, the 2nd pic gives better look at new racquet...

I think you might right. Can't quite see how you get into such shape in just a few weeks, but there's no denying he looks very lean in both.

He might have got Paganini on track again for those gruelling workouts...it's nearly 3 weeks since he was knocked out of Wimb, you can lose a few lbs in that time if you really put your mind to it...and the racquet change definitely tells us his mind has been put to task!

I can see why people say Blade 98, the racquet pic above shows no PWS system (bulge) on the inside of the frame at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. Milos Raonic and Laura Robson use the Blade 98 but the 18x20 version, the above looks like 16x19 so more spin/control. He'll have probably added lead too for more power. Interesting times ahead but it's clear Fed means business and is now prepared to change a few things...wonder if he'll even change coach down the line!! Probably not.

Agreed, tough to say for sure but he's looking good there. Thanks lydian. I'm going to take a look at the specs and see if I can't find something similar locally, have a few swings to see how it compares. Might have to get lucky though!

Very interesting, and as BB says, it's hard not to get excited if this is what's occurring.

I hope this is true.  It would be good in so many respects.  Perhaps most importantly in terms of what it would be saying about his mindset.

The choice to play two tournaments on clay looked a bit odd - perhaps even a pre-retirement good-bye tour, or a bit of panic in his scheduling.  However, if it is indeed coupled with a new racquet, then it all looks dramatically different.

Mostly, it shows he is not planning to go anywhere anytime soon.  Also, the fact that tournaments are on clay is irrelevant - if this is mostly about getting used to a new racquet, it matters not if he plays HC or clay.  It also makes sense to pick lower profile tournaments.

He may well have been planning on the switch later in the year - perhaps in the off-season, and may have just decided to use his early W loss as an opportunity to switch sooner.

Anyway, quite excited about this (hopefully it is indeed true) and, quite frankly, almost irrespective of whether or not it helps his game.  I mostly want him to stick around as long as possible and the racquet change would suggest he would be around for a bit.

Lydian - Fed could have saved a lot of time, and possibly matches, had he hired you a year or so ago  

Agree with all that it is exciting news because it shows that he still has all the desire - whether that will translate into one more big win for him remains to be seen, but it should keep him very competitive.

I would think he is quite pragmatic about maybe not having everything perfectly fine tuned for the USO; as ever, he seems to be looking at the next couple of years in his career.

If this really does represent another big push from Federer, then that's great news. I'm genuinely excited about it.

Even if it doesn't work out, there won't be the lingering "what if"s remaining about his training regime and focus etc.

If he give it everything but still comes up short, nobody will have any regrets.

But when somebody of his ability gives it everything, it's tough to imagine that there won't be any significant titles along the way.

I heard McEnroe suggest Roger should change raquets after the French Open, as he simply wasn't able to generate the easy power that his biggest opponents were getting. Looks like (for once?) Roger actually was paying attention, as this must have been in development for a little while.

The timing is obviously a little odd, as you would have expected the change to occur out of season, but with Roger's early loss at Wimbledon giving him an extra week and the relatively long gap the the next big tournament (Rogers Cup still 3 weeks away), this is probably the best point within the season to try something like this. Some practice time then a couple of minor tournaments to get into the groove before there are any big points and big opponents.

Add to that of course that Federer is so naturally talented that he should be able to adjust to a change of equipment quickly and perhaps this is his best hope of challenging for the USO and late season tournaments. It does, as others have pointed out, suggest that Roger is looking at ways of staying near the top of the game for a substantial period, not just fading away over the remainder of this year.

Lydian wrote:Interesting times ahead but it's clear Fed means business and is now prepared to change a few things...wonder if he'll even change coach down the line!! Probably not.

Annacone would have been instrumental in convincing Federer (along with Luthi) on such a change, so highly unlikely that he will change coaches.

This is good to see from the viewers point of view but I'm not sure Murray, Djokovic and Nadal are too delighted He might be going for the swansong, perhaps 1 more major title and he'd dearly love it to be Wimbledon I imagine. I believe he's already had his swansong but if he believed that then there's no point in carrying on playing. At least he's putting everything he's got, or so we hope, into getting to as good as he can possibly be.

"Federer confirms: He'll play with a 98 inch racquet head. An increase of 8 square inches!"

Is this guy lydian?

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/roger-federer-shows-his-age-stubbornness-to-use-modern-racket-in-stunning-loss-at-wimbledon-sergiy-stakhovsky-062613


Especially interested in this

When Pete Sampras left, he said he wished he would have switched to a bigger, more modern racket. He had stubbornly held on to his past. Here’s something else that’s true: Federer is using almost the exact same racket Sampras thought was outdated in 2002. Jim Courier used the same racket, too.

It’s all touch, no power. When Bjorn Borg came back years after retiring, he tried to trot out his old wood racket to get the same old feel, too. It became a joke.

I didn't realise Federer was playing with such outdated equipment!

laverfan wrote:

Lydian wrote:Interesting times ahead but it's clear Fed means business and is now prepared to change a few things...wonder if he'll even change coach down the line!! Probably not.

Annacone would have been instrumental in convincing Federer (along with Luthi) on such a change, so highly unlikely that he will change coaches.

Actually- there was an interview earlier in the year (sorry don't have it now but remember it well) where Annacone said Federer didn't need to change racquets because he had immense head speed and generated more than enough power... and the little gain in power wouldn't outweigh what he would lose in touch,feel,control if he changed...........

Now surely Annacone could have changed his mind after the results just like Fed... but it didn't seem like Annacone thought it was needed.

Roger does have some racket head speed though... Im in the "wait and see" Camp on this one.

banbrotam wrote:What, just in time for a glorious comeback at the US Open?  

Incidentally, I'm not ruling it out

You are seeing too much ahead  

Like Lyd pointed out the change is well needed one and a well thought one, its gonna take some time to adapt to the new racquet so may be 2014 could be one last hurray for the TMF.

It'll be very interesting to see in a while whether Federer appears to have more easy power. If he does it might add 4% to his game; enough to keep him winning things or a while yet.

The fact he's a bit slower is being amplified by the vulnerability to power. The more he's making others move more, the less the impact on him.

Bottom line, if it works he could be back to the 2016 plan. Or maybe he never went off it.

bogbrush wrote:Is this guy lydian?

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/roger-federer-shows-his-age-stubbornness-to-use-modern-racket-in-stunning-loss-at-wimbledon-sergiy-stakhovsky-062613


Especially interested in this

When Pete Sampras left, he said he wished he would have switched to a bigger, more modern racket. He had stubbornly held on to his past. Here’s something else that’s true: Federer is using almost the exact same racket Sampras thought was outdated in 2002. Jim Courier used the same racket, too.

It’s all touch, no power. When Bjorn Borg came back years after retiring, he tried to trot out his old wood racket to get the same old feel, too. It became a joke.

I didn't realise Federer was playing with such outdated equipment!

I think it's sad that the sport has been reduced to this. The equipment needs standardising. Why should it be so important? The modern day racquets have dumbed this sport down.

I hope Federer moves over to Yonnex and use their 98in racquet. You need to look at the pop Wawrinka has been getting off it. It would be dynamite!

legendkillarV2 wrote:I hope Federer moves over to Yonnex and use their 98in racquet. You need to look at the pop Wawrinka has been getting off it. It would be dynamite!

Look at what Hewitt just did at Newport.

_homogenised_ wrote:

bogbrush wrote:Is this guy lydian?

http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/roger-federer-shows-his-age-stubbornness-to-use-modern-racket-in-stunning-loss-at-wimbledon-sergiy-stakhovsky-062613


Especially interested in this

When Pete Sampras left, he said he wished he would have switched to a bigger, more modern racket. He had stubbornly held on to his past. Here’s something else that’s true: Federer is using almost the exact same racket Sampras thought was outdated in 2002. Jim Courier used the same racket, too.

It’s all touch, no power. When Bjorn Borg came back years after retiring, he tried to trot out his old wood racket to get the same old feel, too. It became a joke.

I didn't realise Federer was playing with such outdated equipment!

I think it's sad that the sport has been reduced to this.  The equipment needs standardising.  Why should it be so important?  The modern day racquets have dumbed this sport down.

It is difficult to standardize an individual sport like Tennis. The choice of a racquet is part of individuality. Imagine Borg without a Donnay or McEnroe without his Dunlop or Sampras without his St. Vincent Wilson.

If you ask for standardization, what do you think of standardizing the surface, to perhaps, say, Clay?

BTW, Fed vs Brands about to start in Hamburg...I don't have TV pics but it will be good to see the new flashing blade in action.

lydian wrote:BTW, Fed vs Brands about to start in Hamburg...I don't have TV pics but it will be good to see the new flashing blade in action.

Brands playing well, and Federer looked uncomfortable from backhand side in 1st set... still some shanks... though there were def a couple of shots that Fed hit in that would have been shanks with the smaller racquet... Power looked good, serve looked good but low 1st serve %

2nd set- Federer played beautiful... in all areas....

Fantastic last two sets by Fed.... he was all over the place and playing his full variety.. Hard to give full credit to the racquet though as he's had plenty of great tennis with the old one :-), but once he got comfortable- he was lights out.

Everyone is saying he's much thinner now and it's hard to tell from a livestream video- but he looked very muscular in the shoulders and thick up top... he's def been working hard.

The BH needs some work from a timing perspective. The FH looks good, and the timing was all right without being outstanding. Footwork was OK on clay. Hajek beat Gulbis, so Federer v Hajek. Let us see if he improves. The missed BPs in the first set were meh.

TRuffin's glowing assessment of the Federer 2nd set performance is certainly borne out by match stats :100% of points won when the 1st serve hit the spot and just two points dropped on second serve (ie in 2nd set)

As has so often been said, when the first serve is firing the rest of his game usually falls into place .....

Ok, I'm upgrading to level 4. Win the event and we might see a 5.

This is on the bogbrush grade of interest & belief. It's a scale from 0 - 10;

0 - give up, absolutely no motivation to pay attention (never reached for TMF).
1 - not much better
2 - despair, why do this? (The lowest point yet reached)
3 - loyalty to a hope, but no confidence
4 - reasons to be cheerful, keep watching
5 - it could happen, it's just unlikely
6 - guarded optimism
7 - playing it down, but hopeful
8 - quite confident, TMF has been repeatedly sighted doing his thing
9 - this is like the old days, he's strutting
10 - this is 2005/6/7.

11 - This is 2004/5  

2005 would be awesome, BanBro.

Nice assessment TRuffin, yep he looks more chunky up top from my perspective also, he's definitely got the bit between hs teeth. BB...reasons to be cheerful!

When you say "5- it could happen"...what could? A slam win?
Ok, 2005-7 is never going to happen again...but surely a slam win is still a hopeful possibility with his renewed vigour and racquet. If he wins Hamburg I'd say 5 is a tad pessimistic! I'd move him to a 7 given where he's come from in 2013!

5 "it" might happen, which is he might play at the top level again, give these top boys a real fight. A Slam has to then be in play.

But a 5 still says that it's unlikely "it" will happen.

I need a mark which says "trying hard not to be optimistic, I can handle the despair, it's the hope that I can't take".

bogbrush wrote:5 "it" might happen, which is he might play at the top level again, give these top boys a real fight. A Slam has to then be in play.

But a 5 still says that it's unlikely "it" will happen.

I need a mark which says "trying hard not to be optimistic, I can handle the despair, it's the hope that I can't take".

That lies in between 5 and 6 -- it's called The Henman Mark.

As long as he plays sublimely at times then I'm going to try very hard just to enjoy the privilege of seeing him play......and not to hope for too much - I'm absolutely with you there BB!

I wonder if Federer will get a chance to play his next match at all?



From the Bet-At-Home site.

The ATP site is behind by a day.

laverfan wrote:The ATP site is behind by a day.

Cool, thanks, I was wondering where the schedule for tomorrow was.

summerblues wrote:

laverfan wrote:The ATP site is behind by a day.

Cool, thanks, I was wondering where the schedule for tomorrow was.

I have already complained, but most of the time it falls on deaf ears.

PS: The printed version on ATP is correct. http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2013/414/op.pdf

As an aside, can I ask how often a top player would actually take the opportunity to test out a raquet other than their normal one?

Clearly guys like Federer will have been getting offers from potential raquet sponsors on a pretty much weakly basis for the last decade, but how frequently would he have tried anything different from the Wilson ProStaff that has brought him so much success?

dummy_half wrote:As an aside, can I ask how often a top player would actually take the opportunity to test out a raquet other than their normal one?

Clearly guys like Federer will have been getting offers from potential raquet sponsors on a pretty much weakly basis for the last decade, but how frequently would he have tried anything different from the Wilson ProStaff that has brought him so much success?

Rory McIlroy changed his clubs at the start of the year when he had a superb season the year before in winning a major and becoming world number 1. Now, he's playing woeful golf on an almost weekly basis. I'm not sure the physical difference in the clubs has caused his poor form but he might not be able to adjust mentally to the change. I imagine it's the same with any sport where the players use their own equipment - tennis or any racquet sport, golf, crcket bats etc. Sometimes the change can be good though but, in Federer's case, why fix what wasn't broken until the change was need?

I think the difference will be in the respective players motives & experience.

Federer did this or clear professional reasons, is hugely experienced and the change happened no doubt after lengthy development.

McIlroy did it for money and is 24.

TSJ / BB

Thanks, although neither quite answer the question I was asking. I'm somewhat aware of the issues that surround McIlroy's change of clubs (and ball) thanks to an enormous sponsorship deal from Nike, and the problems that Djokovic had adjusting to his change of racquet in 2010 (noting the assumption that this was a customised racquet very close to the specification of his previous one).

My question was more aimed at the point that Federer (for example) has used the same Wilson ProStaff racquet in competition for a decade or more, and presumably for 95% + of the time in pactice (Rafa and Andy being similarly loyal to their racquet sponsor and racquet model). How often during this decade will he have picked up a racquet other than his weapon of choice to evaluate whether there was any advantage in using something else?

Who knows? I guess he may have given other things a swing now and then but there's always a big risk of pursuing such a route and when he was winning everything that wouldn't have been smart.

I doubt they routinely try new stuff, more likely a coach ay watch these things and suggest if they like something. In this case I think the racquet has followed Federer's conclusion that he's handicapped against the field by obsolete equipment.