It is vague about even/headlight/heavy rackets.

[armortec800]

Think about it, all the relative specs given by Yonex about the above are totally vague, Any changes to the grip material and hence its weight will change the swing weight. And the U factor by a mere 4~5 grams will change it, depending on where this differences in weight is "headed". But i believe the extra weight usually will be at the head than on the shaft. Hence I rather look for a 2U(overall weight) as I know it will be a stronger raacket.

It should be specified using swing weight systems just like golf woods and irons.

These terms must be explored rather than be exploited by the marketing hype. I heard many people this is head light/even/heavy just because Yonex specifies them.

What are your opinons?

[Neil Nicholls]

Originally Posted by armortec800

Any changes to the grip material and hence its weight will change the swing weight.

very very small change to swingweight if weight added to the grip

[fast3r]

Originally Posted by Neil Nicholls

very very small change to swingweight if weight added to the grip

a towel grip weighs 14g. this is gonna make the racquet head light isnt it?

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by fast3r

a towel grip weighs 14g. this is gonna make the racquet head light isnt it?

Yes, it will affect the static balance -- but the static balance is not very important.

You can't tell the true balance of a racket by looking at its static balance point. What really matters is the distribution of weight.

Suppose you take a racket that is balanced exactly halfway between the top of the head and the end of the handle (pretty odd balance, I know, but it's to illustrate a point).

Now add equal amounts of weight (lead tape) to each end. At first the racket weighed 80g. Now it weighs 120g. But the static balance has not changed at all -- it's still exactly in the centre.

When you try to play with the racket, however, it will feel massively head-heavy. You don't feel the weight on the handle very much, because it is near to the fulcrum of your swing (your hand is the fulcrum). But you do feel the weight on the head, because it is distant from the fulcrum.

The force on a lever is mass * distance from fulcrum.

So you can safely add quite a lot of weight (a few grips) to the handle, without significantly altering the playing characteristics of the racket. But if you added the same weight to the head, it would be very different.

[Russki Bear]

I suppose for stiffness it comes down to how a manufacturer rates racquet stiffness. Does anyone know how they do it? I am sure they'd destroy a few examples to come up with the full specs of a racquet.