Category Archives: Inspiration
More Face Time?
We have found a good format for our video content creation and presentation.
After trying several highly rated and pricey options, we have settled on QuickTime, iMovie, and YouTube.
- Quick Time for recording the video
- iMovie for editing (which we want to keep to a minimum)
- YouTube for presentation
Now there is an “RQ on YouTube” button on the home page menubar! Right now, this is at the very right side of the menu, so please use it to get to our YouTube channel easily.
Thank yo for joining us for “more face time”!
What About Me?
A lifetime dedicated to racquet technology and innovation
For more than five decades, I have been immersed in the world of tennis racquet and string design, manufacturing, and performance optimization. As the owner of Racquet Quest, LLC, I’ve combined deep technical expertise with hands-on innovation to set new benchmarks in racquet customization, diagnostics, and stringing.
My journey has been defined by a relentless pursuit of precision and performance—whether with professionals, college, junior tournament players, in the lab, or in front of an audience, sharing knowledge with peers.
Advanced diagnostic technology
At Racquet Quest, technology and science drive results. I’ve integrated some of the most advanced diagnostic equipment available, alongside proprietary systems I’ve developed, to provide unmatched insights into racquet and string performance:
- True Tension Stringing Machines – pioneering distortion-free stringing
- Babolat Racket Station & Wilson Baiardo Stringing Machines – industry-leading accuracy
- Babolat RDC (Racquet Diagnostic Center) – comprehensive racquet analysis
- Questron proprietary string testing equipment – measuring ultimate tensile strength, stress/strain, knot strength, and more
- Three-string comparative graphing tools – side-by-side performance visualization
- Flex, In-Plane, and String Bed Stiffness devices – quantifying structural dynamics
- Custom portable SBS device – portable precision testing
By combining these tools, I’ve been able to capture and refine the delicate balance between tension, elasticity, and structural integrity, pushing racquet performance beyond traditional standards.
Innovation in design and customization
Innovation has always been central to my work. Some of the highlights include:
- Development of the Perfect Pallet grip system with a custom three-piece anti-vibration design
- Expertise in Special MakeUp (SMU/Pro Stock) racquets for elite players
- Custom racquet extensions and modifications tailored to individual needs
- Proprietary software solutions for collecting and analyzing racquet and string performance data
These advancements have helped players—from juniors to professionals—experience greater consistency, comfort, and control on court.
Experience on the global stage
- My expertise extends well beyond the workshop:
- 50 years in racquet and string design and manufacturing
- Professional event stringing services for several years at major tournaments
- Seminar presenter for 12+ years, sharing expertise with players, coaches, and technicians
- Delivered the acclaimed session “Understanding String” at the 1994 Super Show in Atlanta, hosted by the United States Racquet Stringers Association
This combination of hands-on service and educational leadership has helped shape best practices across the racquet service community.
Media and knowledge sharing
I believe that expertise should be shared widely. To that end, I’ve created multiple platforms to bring racquet knowledge to players and enthusiasts worldwide:
- RacquetQuest.tennis – a hub for insights and resources on racquet technology
- Racquet Quest Podcast, Podcastini, and Podcast Midi – covering everything from string science to on-court trends
Through these channels, I aim to make the science of racquets accessible to every level of the game.
⸻
Tennis continues to evolve, and so does racquet technology. At Racquet Quest, I remain committed to research, testing, and innovation that give players an edge while deepening their understanding of how equipment shapes performance.
Whether stringing for professionals, customizing for serious competitors, or educating the next generation of racquet technicians, the mission remains the same: deliver precision, performance, and passion through technology.
A Long Head Gravity Tour 98
As a high performance racquet technologies business, we have requests for everything imaginable, some not so imaginable! Long racquets are at the top of the list.
Full Custom Head Gravity Tour 98!
Here is a review of a Head Gravity Tour 98 2025 SMU that is 27.75 inches long/70.485cm. See if you can determine which property is most affected by the length.
You can see the string properties here as data taken on our Questron.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Gravity Tour 98 2025 SMU |
| Reference Tension | 57 |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro |
| Machine Used | True Tension Pro |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 52 |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 61.0 |
| Strig Bed Stiffness - SBS | 50.6 |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 37 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 58 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 43 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 429.5 |
| Weight, Grams | 335 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.82 |
| Balance, mm | 331 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.03 |
| Length, Cm | 70.5 |
| Length, Inch | 27.756 |
| Head Width | 9.86 |
| Head Length | 12.71 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 633.6 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 98.2 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 21.3 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 21 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 21.5 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 10.5 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 10.6 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 10.8 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.2 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio | .650 |
| Main String Grid Inch/mm | 7.72/196.1 |
| Cross String Grid Inch/mm | 10.25/260.4 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .785 |
| Average Cross String Space | .546 |
| Average Main String Space | .464 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 37 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 206.94 |
| First Moment, Nm | .858 |
| Polar Moment | 362 |
| Torsional Stability | 18 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 344 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 12.13 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 367.0 |
| Power, RDC | 49 |
| Control, RDC | 52 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 57 |
| Power, Calculated | 2096.5 |
| Head Points | 6.77 |
| Head Weight, % | 47% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.44 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 6.492 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 27.42 |
| K, Lb/In | 166.67 |
| Recoil Weight | 167.7 |
| Twist Weight | 242.8 |
| End Weight | 131.6 |
| Tip Weight | 202./6 |
| 9 O'Clock | 94.7 |
| 3 O'Clock | 94.9 |
| Butt End | 144.5 |
| COF, Main | .339 |
| COF, Cross | .300 |
Three Important Things
When dealing with tennis racquets, there are many significant performance parameters. We are going to list our three (3) most important ones:
- Swing Weight
- Overall Weight
- Effective Stiffness
These particular parameters are based on machine testing, physics, and experience.
- Swing Weight: we refer to this as a dynamic weight, meaning how heavy or light the racquet feels during the swing to the ball.
- Overall Weight: This is normally considered to be the weight found on a scale, electronic, or balance. Weight is your friend if properly associated with your capabilities and stature.
- Effective Stiffness: is a calculable and measurable stiffness of the ball hitting the string as you are holding the racquet and hitting a ball.
Why is it Important?:
- Swing Weight: contributes to power and stability, which contributes to control. A higher swing weight of, say, 320 to 340 will handle most incoming balls with ease. Swing weights of 300 to 319 will be easier to maneuver and require a little more energy from the player to handle aggressive incoming balls.
- Overall Weight: contributes to ease of movement and long play time and must be associated with the stature and style of the player. The heavier racquet will provide more power with less energy expended by the player.
- Effective Stiffness: this is a metric we use to ensure the racquet is within the stiffness range needed by the player. For example, if you come into the World Headquarters of Racquet Quest for the first time with your current racquet and the strings are intact, we can determine the effective stiffness and, based on your satisfaction with the current playability, arrive at a corresponding effective stiffness…not on a reference tension. A range of 24 to 30 pounds is acceptable. Anything over 30 becomes quite stiff and should be avoided by most players.
If you look at our racquet reviews, you will see a lot more than three (3) performance parameters! We believe they are all important, but players should understand the three (3) described here.
Racquet Quest, LLC
