Alright, so today I’m gonna talk about something I’ve been messing with lately: Tommy Paul’s racquet setup. I’ve been trying to dial in my own game, and his setup caught my eye. So, let’s dive in, step by step, into how I tried to replicate it.
First things first, I had to figure out what he was actually using. After some digging around online and watching his matches closely (slow-mo is your friend!), I gathered he’s using a Yonex EZONE 98. Okay, cool. I already had one lying around – bonus!
Next up: strings. This is where it got a bit more complicated. Apparently, he’s using a hybrid setup: something like Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25 in the mains and Yonex Rexispeed 1.30 in the crosses. Never tried that combo before, but hey, gotta commit to the experiment!
I went ahead and ordered both strings. Stringing time! I strung the EZONE 98 with the Poly Tour Pro in the mains at 52 lbs and the Rexispeed in the crosses at 50 lbs. That’s what I could find online as the tension he uses, or at least close to it. Honestly, stringing it myself saved me some cash, and I kinda enjoy it anyway.
Then came the grip. I noticed he uses an overgrip, so I slapped on a Yonex Super Grap overgrip. Can’t go wrong with that classic, right? I also added a tiny bit of lead tape at 3 and 9 o’clock on the racquet head, just a little, because I felt like it was missing some weight.
Alright, racquet’s strung, gripped, and weighted (slightly). Time to hit the court! The first few hits felt… different. The hybrid string setup definitely gave it a unique feel. The Poly Tour Pro gave me that control and spin I expected, but the Rexispeed added a touch more comfort and power than I thought it would.
I spent a few hours hitting serves, groundstrokes, and volleys. I noticed the ball was coming off the racquet faster, and I was getting some decent spin. My serves had a little extra pop too.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The feel was a bit muted compared to what I’m used to, and I felt like I was losing some feedback on off-center hits. It took a bit of adjusting my swing to really get the most out of the setup.
After a couple more sessions, I’m starting to get the hang of it. I’m hitting a heavier ball, and my serves are more consistent. I still need to fine-tune my technique to fully take advantage of the setup, but overall, I’m pretty happy with the results.
So, there you have it – my attempt at recreating Tommy Paul’s racquet. It’s not a magic bullet, and I’m not suddenly playing like a pro, but it’s been a fun experiment. I’d say give it a try if you’re looking to change things up! Just be prepared to put in the time to adjust your game to the new feel.
