Racquet Comparison Tool

Choose Racquets To Compare

Racquet A Racquet B

Property	Pure Drive 2015	Blade 98 (16x19) (2015)	Difference %
Headsize (in²) (cm²)	100 645	98 632	-2.0
Length (in) (cm)	27.00 68.6	27.00 68.6	0.0
Weight (oz) (gm)	11.36 322	11.61 329	2.2
Balance (in) (cm)	12.8 32.4	13.5 34.2	5.6
Swingweight (kg*cm²)	319	343	7.5
Flex (RDC)	72	69	-4.2
Twistweight (kg*cm²)	14.9	14.5	-2.7
Vibration (Hz)	163	146	-10.4
Power (%)	41	43	4.9
Sweet Zone (in²) (cm²)	16 103.2	18 116.1	12.5

Key Points

The Racquet Comparison Tool compares properties of any two racquets.
The comparison parameters include both statically and dynamically measured performance variables.
The dynamic specs are measured during the impact between a ball and racquet. These include power potential, sweet zone size, and vibration frequency.
Static specs are length, headsize, weight, balance, swingweight, flex, and twistweight.
Dynamic specs are most interesting because they measure the performance of the racquet in action.
The power potential is measured at in the middle of the stringbed at 21 inches from the butt. The sweet zone is the area of the stringbed located above 19 inches and has a power potential of 30% or more.
See Also:

Explanation

Comparing Racquets

Of all the properties listed, the most interesting is the power potential. Though it is a measure of power, it is much more than that. Properties such as weight, balance, length, and headsize measure a static condition that depends only on amount and location of mass. In themselves, they tell you nothing about performance, except as you have gained by experience. Power potential, on the other hand, measures the performance result of ALL properties acting simultaneously as they contribute to the rebound of the ball. In a sense, power potential measures what the racquet does. In a nutshell, it tells you the percent of the combined collision speed of the ball and racquet that remains after the ball leaves the strings. If the PP is 40%, that means that the shot speed will be 40% of the combined impact speed. That speed is the combined result of weight, balance, swingweight, twistweight, length, headsize, flex, beam width, string pattern ... everything.

Power potential (performance potential) differs at every location on the stringbed. The number in the tool is just the location at the center of the stringbed. However, the Power Potential Tool shows you the power potential at 15 stringbed locations. The "sweetness" of the shot depends on the impact location. The Sweet Zone Tool graphically displays the regions of the stringbed on each racquet with power potential that is greater than or equal to 20, 30 and 40 percent. The sweet zone quoted in the table is for the area of 30 percent.

In the final analysis, however, the property that is most specific to choosing a racquet is swingweight. Swingweight is directly proportional to power potential but indirectly proportional to swing speed. So you have to find the swingweight that optimizes inherent racquet power and swing speed to produce the shots you want. That swingweight is "your number." That is the starting point for choosing a racquet.