Which Racket Characteristic Comes First?

All who have played with me know I use ProKennex rackets. 

Many made the "mistake" of trying them, and ended up getting hooked to the impeccable comfort. Even those with no arm injuries.

Before you place an order for ProKennex, note that all my rackets are heavily modified. And it's not just lead tape or silicone added. If you have missed them, here's some of the mods I've tried:

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2015/02/custom-drilling-10x19-spin-pattern.html

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2013/04/overhaul-wilson-hammer-58-syn-gut-3228.html

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2013/06/overhaul-pro-kennex-black-ace-98.html

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2014/07/extending-racket-by-inch.html

http://unorthodoxstringing.blogspot.sg/2014/01/tri-brid-stringing-vs-varied-tension.html

With the spin and power craze, marketing has been focusing on what consumers want, just to generate sales.

But has anyone considered what is the most important factor in a tennis racket? Is it spin? Or power? Or control?

For me, and a lot of people who thought otherwise, it is comfort. 

Think of the folks who play the most amount of tennis - professionals. Do you notice most prefer a flex in the high-50s to mid-60s? And many have silicone to both add weight and dampening.

Once comfort is established, we can enhance other variables. If we want more spin, use full poly with proportional stringing (link). For power and spin, gut/poly. For control and spin and durability, kevlar/poly or kevlar/zyex.

Almost all aspects, like power, spin or control can be added. But if comfort is absent, then all the other variables become limited. 

Think about it, how much spin or power do you want to add if every impact was already jarringly painful?

Please keep this in mind before your next racket purchase.

Play safe!


PS: Please do not take this as my endorsement for ProKennex rackets. There are many other comfortable playing sticks from other brands.