I always wondered ...
 

I am sorry to distrub you guys but I wanted to create this new thread to makes ask questions about Maria more easily. I'll start

I always wondred what the Prince-Head switch have brought to Maria's game ? What would her career have been if she stuck to Prince ? I'd love to have your opinion guys !

Re: I always wondered ...
 

As far as I'm aware HEAD rackets are lighter, so it probably gives her peace of mind where her shoulder is concerned. I also feel like her shots have had a lot more shape on them in the past year and a half. Whether that's more due to change in technique or to the racket switch (or a combination of both) I don't know.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

I heard HEAD rackets are heavier. Although I don't know much about rackets etc., when I heard it I wondered why she would get more pop if it was heavier. But she definitely seems to have shortened her swing on her FH, especially when pushed back.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

yup, she doesn't overdo lasso follow-through on her FH as much as she did prior to this season...that's just one of those minor technical changes that I've noticed in her game recently, which allowed her to dominate points with her FH and become even better player.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

Yeah the forehand has been tweaked a lot since her comeback in 09. It's not as pretty a shot as it was pre-surgery, but it's improved steadily the last couple years and it's now a really effective shot on clay.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

Head racquets arent lighter or heavier, it depends which one u get they are different weights. Though i think the IG instinct which she uses is lighter than o3 white and o3 black :)

Re: I always wondered ...
 

Maria doesn't use an Instinct. She uses a Youtek Radical MP (pro I think); she endorses the Instinct with her racket just painted to look like one.

As far as I know, Maria's Head racket is indeed heavier but is more flexible, so it eases the shoulder unlike Prince rackets which are known to be very stiff.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

I also wanted to know why does Maria suck at the USO since she came back from surgery ? ...

Re: I always wondered ...
 

2010, she lost to Wozniack, and the last set was 6-4. 2011, she lost to Pennetta, in the third set 6-4.
So...one game in both years could have put her at 5-5, and she has a good record in those situations.

She might be better in close sets this year.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

This. She uses a customized racquet (as most players do) but it was given a paint job so it looks like the Instinct.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

I do not think so, just look at the racquet she used when she first decided to use Head and the one she's actually using, big difference, not the same racquet at all. And at the beginning of 2011 she was using a Radical MP but not anymore.

Re: I always wondered ...
 

Sometimes I kinda miss the lasso forehand..it was such a trademark from her:p

Re: I always wondered ...
 

But it says she uses the instinct :bigcry: am i going to have to get the radical pro now :bigcry:

Re: I always wondered ...
 

Can anyone tell me: does maria use now the updated version of her racquet then? the head youtek IG radical pro?

Re: I always wondered ...
 

I do too even though she does it from time to time but not that much as before :/ Was soo beautiful to see from her !