How Swing Weight Affects Tennis Technique

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Too Light vs Too Heavy 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6vco2ycgpebpLcsi=PtnVM1CkjB04jAci

[@yongli4304]

I have to point out that swing weight is related to the balance. By definition, tennis racquet's swing weight is a result of its weight and balance. The more head light, the less the swing weight, the more head heavy, the higher the swing weight.

[@rottafi]

If you play competitive tennis you need to be sure you can swing the swing weight for the two sets you're playing in a row. If your technique fails and serve fails in the second set often, it can be that you're playing with too high a swing weight racket for your fitness and skill. Higher swing weight can feel awesome when hitting with a friend for an hour but playing with it is different.

[@shawnogg8208]

Correct idea, but what to do in the third set?😊

[@louisedyhlen3234]

@@shawnogg8208 what about the fifth set 20-20 tiebreak point

[@shawnogg8208]

@@louisedyhlen3234 I liked his comment so much that I had to nitpick. The five-Setters I leave to you, I will give up after the third.

[@miguelbarahona6636]

As a club player you need to be sure you can swing the swing weight for the two sets you're playing in a row. If your technique fails and serve fails in the second set often, it can be that you're playing with too high a swing weight racket for your fitness and skill. Higher swing weight can feel awesome when hitting with a friend for an hour but playing with it is different.

[@rottafi]

@@shawnogg8208 You located the joke, congrats! You can't play that many sets with it. It's a loss in the second.

[@la33ib]

Excellent explanation of swing weight and its effects without using formulas.... In the formula, it represents the energy needed to rotate the racket...merci Nikola 🙏

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙌🙏

[@geoffchriste1703]

Great video, but based on the comments most people are still missing the point. Its always player specific. Old school, eastern forehand, flat ball hitters with limited take back and limited follow thru will benefit from heavier swing weights. Are you a modern western or semi western grip baseliner with a full follow thru? Generally a lesser swing weight helps you accelerate into your contact zone. On serve, if you slice or kick, lesser swing weight will assist your contact racquet head speed. If you are a rec player with a frying pan serve, then a higher swing wgt will impart more power to your serve. The bottom line is do not buy a racquet which has a too high swing wgt for your game style because there's no easy way to fix that, whereas it is easy to ... Add more swing weight ... To a frame you feel swings too light and feels unstable on ball impact. In general, beginning adults should look for something in the 290 - 305 range. Club players should be in the 305 -320 range. Competitive Jrs thru college level players should be in the 320 - 330 range, and tour level players can handle swing wgts above 330. Last piece of advice, poly strings are not designed to optimally perform in frames with sub 310 swing wgts, so unless you want to invite arm or wrist issues, stick to multi filaments or a hybrid setup.

[@allemyr]

i think you should only talk about your play style. dont mix adding weight to handle or just above the grip with swingweight. Swingweight at 340 is crazy good for kickserves they kick crazy but couldnt play many shots in a row too tire some. Backhand was super nice. Adding 20 grams to a raquet grip is nothing. adding 6 grams at 12 to a 305 gram Pure Strike makes it to something fryingpan players classic cant handle. Swing weight would be quite high.

[@milanvincic9668]

Great video! Swing weight of a racket is often neglected especially by rec players. We talk about the weight and string patterns but rarely about the swing weight. An eye-openign video Nick. Thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Milan

[@K4R3N]

"play with the most swingweight YOU can correctly maneuver." Thanks Nik! I just changed from Speed Pro down to Radical MP (-10g) static and I appreciate the lower weight. Can pronate well on serve now. My volleys I have to be more careful however, less stability.

[@park3580]

been wondering about this for the longest time. thanks for sharing

[@AMstringing]

Aloha Nikola, Great content and explanations! 👍 I especially liked the part where you used the tennis net to show the balance as related to the swingweight of a racquet. It's funny how some players feel if they add weight to the handle making it more head-light, that it would somehow make the racquet more maneuverable. 🤨 Would you mind if I answered some of the questions posted in these comments? If not, no worries. 🤙

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you. Yes of course, everyone is free to engage in the comments 🙌

[@fsilber330]

"It's funny how some players feel if they add weight to the handle making it more head-light, that it would somehow make the racquet more maneuverable." -- I have lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock to widen the sweet spot, but it hurt my volley. So I added LOTS of weight to the butt cap and choked up two inches on the volley. The combination did indeed make the racket more maneuverable, because I was now holding it close to its center of gravity. That let me use my arm to move the entire racket this way and that, without the racket head first lagging and then overshooting the the desired position due to inertia. On the ground strokes I choke up one inch and use EXTREMELY old-school style. The choking up keeps the swing weight manageable despite the lead tape on the racket head. Holding the racket still somewhat close to the center of gravity makes it easier to control the ball (easier timing), because it's easier to swing the entire racket as a unit forward and keeping the racket head from pulling around prematurely. This way, small errors in timing don't destroy control. This set up also makes it easier to block the ball back. I think this is the best racket set-up for being pusher, which is the most my (lack of) talent will allow.

[@DrPravZ]

What I understand about the static weight and swing weight- For recreational/beginner level - more weight on the head and less in the handle (head heavy racquet) , this will give you a low static weight racquet with high swing weight. Easy to hold, gets good power with less effort, less maneuverable For intermediate/advanced players- more weight transferred to the handle keeping the same weight at the head, now the balance shifts and the racquet becomes head light. Weighs heavier but needs to swing harder to get the power, easy to maneuver. For example - Head S6 Ti and Wilson Blade have almost the same swing weight, S6 has a static weight of 250gm whereas Wilson Blade is 305gm. S6 is difficult to maneuver because it is head heavy whereas Blade is head light and more maneuverable 👍

[@l-_-lShadowCat]

I freaked out when you swung the hammer on the service motion because I couldn’t stop thinking about your kneecap’s integrity! Haha! Good video. By the way: the units of sw, mass x squared distance, mean that it is calculated multiplying each mass bit by the square of its distance to the rotation axis and summing (integrating) it all. Usually this calculation is impossible, because the racket shape is too complex to be integrated analytically (that can be done with simple shapes though: rods, spheres, rings, etc) so it must be measured with a swinging machine. This square dependence means that the same mass placed at twice the distance from a certain reference will increase the sw by 4 times the initial effect.

[@NickNeras]

Good info Thank you for sharing this 👌👍

[@valentinpanduru1488]

Thanks Nick. Could you do a similar video about the stiffness of the raquets for recreational level ?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Absolutely!

[@virtualyme7659]

It's something I feel many players can struggle with. Trying to make choices that they can make the most of. I'm old and always played with heavy frames. My current frame is a Wilson RF 97 Autograph version 1. Before I got them some years ago I demoed dozens of frames. I found I could get way more action on the ball with certain lighter frames but I felt it suffered with stability in certain circumstances. It's something I need to revisit in the future. I'll be in my 60's soon and I just don't have the physical powers I had and I will likely be going with something lighter at any rate.

[@kneeslider9342]

There is a way to reduce the swing weight a little. Take the next thinner string or the thinnest string from the same manufacturer, if available. Less weight in the head = less swingweight. This allows you to test how the same racket feels with less swingweight with relatively little effort.

[@AMstringing]

Aloha, In my opinion, although the swingweight will be reduced with a thinner string gauge, it is very minimal. If anything, players will feel the difference in the playability of the strings more than the swingweight. This change in thinner gauge will add more "pop" and spin potential. 👍

[@robg7892]

It's literally moment of inertia. Which is a measure of how hard it is to rotationally accelerate the racket. So big swing weight makes it hard to get the racket motion for spin with a given wrist strength

[@CJZM7777]

Should you be using your wrist to get racket motion? Racket swing speed should come from your core rotation and the wrist should do little to nothing to generate racket movement.

[@robg7892]

@@CJZM7777 well the shoulder is stronger than the elbow, which is stronger than the wrist. So you will 100 feel it more in the wrist. look back at your comment and then try to connect the dots to why he says he had it tough doing kick serves. you will also feel high moment of inertia in the shoulder and elbow, but it will likely impact you the most at the wrist before you notice it at the shoulder. the wrist is not just a loose hinge, but it can be.

[@allemyr]

noo. if you place weight at the handle you will cause these problems. Stock raquet of your choice with little or nothing added is super. You have to feel the raquet in your hand. And feel how does it accelerate, do I like it? and try. Adding too much weight at handle kills any raquet in my opinion.

[@kevinle5460]

Got that 3d briffidi swingweight machine. So useful for measuring and matching swingweight on racquets if you have multiple of the same. 332 swingweight is good for me

[@SY-it7xs]

I got a briffidi as well and customise to 332-335sw 31.5-32 BP.

[@tennis3605]

Great information Nicola! Thanks!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙌🙏

[@vashts718]

Good explanation of swing weight 👍🏻

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you

[@WaltKurtz68]

Free tip: You can use head protection tape to increase swingweight AND, as opposed to lead tape, add the weight evenly over a larger area. Most racquets have a bumper guard. Just appIy head protection tape on the bumper guard and you add 2 to 3 grams evenly from around 10 'o clock to about 2 o' clock. Or use a shorter piece of tape if you want to add less weight. Weigh your racquet before you begin, so you'll know how much weight you've added when you're done. Lead tape is more useful for adding a couple of grams at 3 and 9 o' clock. I like this method very much.

[@allemyr]

It doesnt matter so much how much you added. Its more important where you added it. 2 grams. Just checking how many grams you added will benefit you nothing. Best is to find raquets you like stock. And matching frames then you probably give them to someone. I add 1.5 gram total at VCore 97 2021 at 11 and 1 its nice! wouldnt wanna play with that.

[@allemyr]

Adding at 9 and 3 can make it possible to add quite many grams but the raquet can feel sluggish to accelerate and make the raquet to something it wasnt design for since 9 and 3 is rather low down.

[@WaltKurtz68]

@@allemyr Adding weight at 3 and 9 is an ideal way to improve racquet head stability. Especilally with so many racquets nowadays being very light, stability can quickly become an issue. Racquets with low swing weight also benefit from this placement of weight. Make sure you add the same amount at the grip size to maintain proper balance.

[@allemyr]

@@WaltKurtz68 Hi! I only add around 1.5-2 grams to my raquet evenly at 11 and 1. I choose a raquet that I like from start.

[@allemyr]

@@WaltKurtz68 sorry but in my eyes idk how much one could add at 9 and 3. sorry it sounds terrible can you really hit topspins? no. really bad idea this thats useless in my eyes people dont feel their raquets just slab on weights. its at the top you have to add some if you want a kick serve. or dont add anything

[@systemx4]

I recently stopped using my babolat pure strikes as i found after 2 sets it was too heavy, and my game suffered, couldnt whip the racket anymore and was latenon volleys. Went to a head instinct, same 300g weight but lower SW, playing great now!

[@James-qv1dr]

A swingweight of 325 is my limit. I can play with more but it can be tiring in a long match

[@onimaxiis1]

100% agree

[@juanantoniocanohidalgo5070]

Hello nice video, we are warring your second video about choose the new racket, thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

When the us open is over I will start testing again and posting vids

[@melfox215]

Last week I (4.0, playing a 305g Wilson Blade) played doubles with some 3.0 to 3.5 level guys and one of them showed me his new racket that has a weight of 315g. His stroke technique is the common old school without any sort of follow through that actively stops when hitting the ball. Tennis elbow is probably coming soon...

[@garyhoward4064]

Strange this concept of tennis elbow. I play with a light racket and from time to time feel tennis elbow creeping in. So I switch to a heavy racket and t.elbow goes away. Been doing that therapy for the past 35 years..

[@watersmoke1114]

this is not the topic here

[@watersmoke1114]

it's about swingeffort

[@cristiandececco]

Spin decreases with more swingweight and viceversa. For same effort swings, as swingweight increases, swing speed decreases and spin therefore also decreases. If the swing speed is kept constant, then the spin will be the same for all racquets. Reference: Tennis Warehouse University

[@knotwilg3596]

Spin is determined by 1) the swing speed 2) how you contact the ball (brushing vs square on). More swing speed = more spin. More brushing = more spin. More swing weight is (potentially) more swing speed hence more spin (if brushing), not less. The downside of swing weight is that the inertia can work against you. Bringing the racket into motion is harder because of its higher inertia. If you swing into a certain direction, it's harder to adjust. If you move around, the racket may end up in less of a ready position because of its bigger inertia.

[@cristiandececco]

@@knotwilg3596 more swing weight Is less swing speed. also One must consider spin weight. Youll find technical articles on the tennis warehouse university site

[@alirezamirhadi8517]

Quick question: If I add weight to my racket grip, how does is affects the swing weight?

[@frankojudoka]

I have 2 hammers 5.3. I added 200 grams lead tape 1 of them. I also have 1 H2 so I have 3 hammers. I train with the heavy one. Ok. I’m making a note. Swing weight 325 or below.

[@Shaunsweeney-Kubach71]

I see that you know Richie the Hammer!😊

[@geramos109]

Can you make similar video but with the Twist weight?

[@rodrigocosta1852]

Nick, I suggest you to find modern 285 grams racquets with 305-315 swing weight and stabilization technology, because you're complaining about classic heavy and high swing weight racquets. Maybe try the Head Boom, Head Speed MP or MPL, Solinco Blackout 285, Wilson Ultra, Yonex Vcore and specially Dunlop FX 500 (the closest racquet to the Pure Drive). 2024 Dunlop racquets are very good, improved technology to maintain low swing weight but very stable, lots of feel and raw classic sensation. I think it very responsive, as you like. I really can bet you will choose Dunlop FX 500 if you try.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

285 is too light kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJOWpJaLlsd7hbMsi=-ZCiXnPLUO7CD_28

[@rodrigocosta1852]

@@IntuitiveTennis so try the Dunlop FX 500 (it has 300 grams), sure that is the racquet for you. The closest to the Pure Drive.

[@Lucian86]

Here's the problem: measuring it. In my area few have that machine to do it as it's expensive and uneconomical.

[@ianbuick8946]

Question: how do i increase fitness/strength to the higher swingweight. What exact exercise do i need to do?

[@akbarberlian]

Mostly stamina. Other than tennis specific drill

[@TK-Tennis]

Your optimal swing weight is more about your specific technique and play style. Like Nick said, you "can" increase your ability to handle more swing weight as your technique improves or as you get stronger, but as an adult the fitness and strength improvements won't make nearly as much difference than your technique and improvement in the game. If you are a junior, then your natural increases in strength from normal growth patterns will naturally impact how much swing weight you optimally can handle

[@Ludderr]

Coach when are you going to switch rackets?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I’m working on it

[@CJZM7777]

Good video overall. I think intermediate to advance amateur players should use SW in the 315 to 335 range. If you go below 315, the racket is likely to not be very stable and you'll feel the shock of impact and twisting on off center hits. There's a common misconception that lighter is better and lighter meaning lower static weight and lower swing weight. Too light is just as bad as too heavy. Most adults including small adults can handle a 315 to 325 SW and athletic adults can go even higher.

[@NickNeras]

100% 👍👌💪

[@heraldokawakami9965]

Great video, but it does has to be with the balance of the racket, if you have 2 rackets, both let's say 300g, one with CG (balance) at 30cm and another one with CG (balance) at 34cm, tha last one will have a higher swing weight!

[@heraldokawakami9965]

Using your hammer example, hold it by it tip (heavier side) and swing, it will have the same weight but will be much easier to swing, because you changed the CG in relation to to pivot (rotation) point.

[@the_domi]

No, not true. Just google and study more.

[@James-qv1dr]

This isn't correct

[@heraldokawakami9965]

@the_domi, @James-qv1dr The swingweight is basically the moment of inertia of the racket at around 10cm from the bottom, and moment of inertia is related with the CG, simple physics. It would be great if somebody who has a sw machine would show the physics!

[@James-qv1dr]

@@heraldokawakami9965 You're still wrong. You can have two rackets that have the same balance and swing weight. Add 30g to the handle of one of the rackets (changing the balance), and the SW will not decrease, and will most likely slightly increase.

[@matisms]

i tried 3g of lead @12 oclock in my RF97 this last week just for a test.. i was on a doubles match and we were winning 62 30 then my arm was complete off the rest of the match we lost 26 57 7-10. i took off xdd

[@八極麻花捲]

Hi Nick: can you talk about what happens when a person used to high sw like 340-370 to play a 300 sw racquet? What kind feel will that person experience? Shouldn’t that person will try to hit very fast to compensate the loss of sw? Tks.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

It’s probably going to feel like the racquets is flailing all over the place (lack of stability). Hard to compensate for this if you have high sw programmed into your game.

[@八極麻花捲]

@@IntuitiveTennis thank you.

[@minhuctran605]

Please tell me about your grip size (without overgrip). Thank you from Vietnam.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

4 3/8

[@minhuctran605]

@@IntuitiveTennis Then with 1 overgrip you will come up with size #3.5 or nearly #4?

[@danielm.m.7654]

Im Very tall and long and weak. What racket do you think I should use on Clay? Im from Brazil and theres only red clay here

[@akbarberlian]

100 inch racket with 285grams.. brand/name? anything that you like

[@lesterrwicklund]

Try the iga racket... feels like pro stock

[@cakarbilal]

Which pro stock racquets did you tried before?

[@lesterrwicklund]

@@cakarbilal I didn't, but my coach tald me that

[@king0vdarkness]

now I want to see you play with the hammer lol

[@MaciejSzewczyk-n9q]

More swingheight more chances for wrist/arm injury...

[@ozankabakyesheplayedcentreback]

I was hoping you were gonna show us how you play tennis with a hammer.

[@陳醬-c7r]

I worried about you when I saw you swing hammer around your head

[@cekinekshn]

325-330 SW is my sweetspot Anything below 320 feels unstable and I have absolutely no power. My Pure Aero 2023 and Tecnifibre Tempo 298 are both 330g ish and 330 SW.

[@watersmoke1114]

strung or unstrung ?

[@cekinekshn]

@@watersmoke1114 strung 330 unstrung would be 360ish strung Rafa plays with 370 strung

[@watersmoke1114]

@@cekinekshn tx - I had the same question about the video I understand he means 325 unstrung?

[@cekinekshn]

@@watersmoke1114 No. He means strung. It's always strung. Whenever someone tells you the swingweight of the racket it's most likely strung.

[@watersmoke1114]

@@cekinekshn tx