Dominic Thiem’s Racket – What Does He Use?

One of many sport’s cleanest methods helped propel Dominic Thiem to his maiden Grand Slam victory on the US Open in 2020, chalking up yet one more large title that his racket sponsor Babolat can lay declare to taking part in a component in.

However which body from the French outfit does Thiem use when he is blazing backhand winners? Let’s take a better have a look at the Austrian’s tennis racket.

What Racket Does Dominic Thiem Use?

Thiem is Babolat’s face of the Pure Strike line of rackets, and he is at the moment a customized model of the third Era Pure Strike 18 x 20.

Whereas many professional gamers, for instance, Djokovic and Murray, have a tendency to make use of professional inventory frames with distinctive drill patterns, with Babolat, you typically see their sponsored gamers utilizing retail frames that they customise to spec.

Even Nadal uses a lightly customised retail frame, all be it one from the early 2000s and Thiem is similar.

With a participant like Dominic, we begin with an alternate along with his coach and our efficiency groups within the lab on the traits of the present racket. We talk about the scenario collectively and notably the evolution to be made on the racket based on the orientation of the model of play or sure technical changes.

Relying on the solutions, we offer options, with out forgetting, in fact, the impression of the stringing (50% of the racket’s efficiency comes from the body and 50% from the string).” In Dominic’s case, we introduced extra stability at impression to permit him to play the ball earlier after the rebound.

The evolution of the racket’s body has allowed us to alter the customization, decreasing the burden added. Because of this, the racket has higher manoeuvrability whereas sustaining the control-power ratio. This improved manoeuvrability permits the racket to generate extra spin and confidence on impression with the ball.

The string sample has an impression on the management degree. An 18×20 string sample will cut back the string mattress flexibility and subsequently present extra management. We name this the trampoline impact. The bigger and extra open the string sample is the larger the trampoline impact, so, offering extra energy. Olivier Carlier, Babolat International Advertising and marketing Supervisor

What Specification is Thiem’s Racket?

Thiem’s third-generation Pure Strike shouldn’t be too dissimilar to the retail racket, however he has the body customised with 4 strips of lead tape at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock and two extra strips underneath the top guard at 12 o’clock. That is counterbalanced with silicone within the deal with. 

He is at the moment utilizing round 3 inches of lead tape at 3 and 9, however within the video, additional down the web page, he had 4 inches of lead tape (in his first-gen Pure Strike). 1 inch of 1/4 inch lead tape weighs 0.25 g.

Thiem’s grip can also be moulded to his specification, and it is a Head rectangular grip form, a body he utilized in his youthful days. You may see his full racket specs beneath:

Has Thiem Modified Racket Specs In His Profession?

Thiem has been fairly the tinkerer relating to rackets, and he is performed with three completely different manufacturers since he was a junior.

As a junior, he used the Wilson Six One 95 Group, a lighter model of the Six One 95 that a number of gamers in Thiem’s age vary use even at present.

Curiously he used the lighter mannequin, which I assume is as a result of he was by no means probably the most muscular man on the market and has been considerably of a late developer bodily.

After leaving the Wilson behind, Thiem moved over to his dwelling nation’s racket producer, Head, utilizing the control-orientated Head Status MP for a number of years in an 18 x 20 string sample.

Then in 2014, Babolat launched the Pure Strike racket. Like Nadal’s Aero Pure Drive Authentic, this racket was virtually designed for Thiem, and he has used that racket ever since.

Babolat up to date the body in 2017, however Thiem caught with the older design regardless of the brand new beauty for branding functions.

When the third era racket was launched in 2019, Thiem switched to the up to date mannequin. That is the racket he makes use of proper now.

Why Does Thiem Use The Babolat Pure Strike?

The Pure Strike is a control-orientated racket, and with Thiems full, quick swings, that’s the kind of body he wants; in any other case, he could be spraying the ball everywhere. Which he even manages every so often with a lower-powered body just like the Pure Strike!

The 18 x 20 string sample additionally helps him present a extra predictable response, and amongst the next-gen, there appears to be a development in the direction of utilizing the denser string patterns.

Curiously, Thiem’s static and swing weight are a bit decrease than the common in comparison with many different high guys. For instance, Djokovic is utilizing a racket that’s 19 grams heavier with a a lot greater swing weight, which is a major distinction.

You’d assume that weight distinction would end in an absence of energy for the Austrian, however given his swing pace and method, he is able to hitting one of many heaviest balls on tour with a ton of spin on each wings.

What String Setup Does Thiem Use?

Thiem has experimented closely with strings, switching them round continuously. 

When he first moved to the Pure Strike, he used a full mattress of Babolat RPM Blast; then, he moved over to the RPM Blast Tough, seemingly for extra spin and energy.

Then, he switched to a hybrid with Babolat VS Natural Gut in the mains and RPM Blast Rough within the crosses for a quick interval. In a number of interviews, he revealed being a giant fan of the setup.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he lower these strings out and began experimenting with Head Hawk and Head Experimental Tour. 

Provided that setup introduced spectacular outcomes, together with beating Federer to win the Indian Wells title, you’ll have thought it’d stick round.

However Thiem once more quickly modified to a full mattress of Babolat RPM Power 1.25mm (17), which helped land him his maiden Grand Slam on the US Open in 2020. He strings it at 55 lbs/ 25kg.

After an prolonged interval on the sidelines in 2021 as a consequence of a wrist harm, Thiem made a comeback in mid-2022 that did not breed prompt success.

Consequently, he switched string setup once more to a brand new hybrid setup of Head Lynx Tour (champagne) 1.25mm strung at 25.5kg (56 lbs) within the mains and Head Hawk (white) 1.25 at 24.5kg (54 lbs) within the crosses.

This set-up is extra comfort-orientated as Hawk within the cross shouldn’t be a stiff poly, so it must be friendlier to his arm and wrist if that is one thing he is frightened about, given his harm.

Can You Purchase Dominic Thiem’s Racket?

Dominic Thiem’s racket is available at most main tennis retailers; the mannequin you need is the Pure Strike 18 x 20.

To reflect his actual specs, you will want some lead tape, a pack of Head Lynx Tour 1.25mm in champagne, a set of Head Hawk 1.25mm in white, and to have the ability to add some weight into the deal with.

Moderately than silicone, I like to recommend utilizing rolled-up lead tape or some putty within the butt cap. That is simpler to work with and regulate if it’s essential.

You’d want somebody to rework the deal with when you needed a duplicate which might require shaving it down and constructing it again up within the Head rectangular form, however that is overkill.

Your ultimate possibility could be to trace down a match used Thiem body, however this is not going to be straightforward.

Obtained a query about Thiem’s racket? Are you a fan of the Babolat Pure Strike? Let me know within the feedback.