With Covid-19 still raging, especially the Delta variant, many are staying home voluntarily despite full vaccinations.
Work-from-home remains the default in Singapore.
Probably because of this, a lot of my old friends picked up tennis. A former colleague, now in his 70s and retired, pursued tennis rigorously. Taking lessons twice a week and playing another two more days with his wife.
We caught up and played. He used an oversized head-heavy racket recommended by his coach.
And I noticed the strain on his face as he struggled with his timing on every forehand shot. He thought that was normal and how tennis ought to be played. His coach commended his strokes.
When I took his racket back for measurements and restring, I was shocked!
His second hand racket had been modified previously. At 28 inches long, it weighed 297 grams with a balance of 36.5cm and a swingweight of 381 kg/cm2!
Despite removing all the lead tape I could find, it remained too head-heavy. I suggested to cut down by half-inch for a start and he agreed.
Some weight was added in the handle end to rebalance. The old kevlar/synthetic gut was cut and restrung with full poly at about 40 lbs using proportional stringing.
He loved it from the first hit!
"So easy!" he exclaimed!
Longer is not always better. The specs has to be within his strength ability. He immediately sent in his wife's racket to be re-worked too.
