Matt Previdi on ParentingAces

Summary

Matt Previdi, master racket technician and representative for Selenco (an Italian string manufacturer), provides a comprehensive breakdown of racket specifications and string selection for junior and developing players. Drawing on his experience with the Indian Wells stringing team, Previdi explains the three non-changeable racket specifications (length, string pattern, beam width), how open string patterns generate topspin, how the RA stiffness scale predicts injury risk, and the largely unknown fact that professional players often paint rackets to misrepresent what they are actually using.

Guest Background

Matt Previdi is a master racket technician with extensive experience at the professional tour level, including service on the Indian Wells stringing team. He is a representative for Selenco, an Italian manufacturer specializing in high-performance strings. Previdi has worked with professional players and their equipment teams, giving him direct knowledge of both the technical specifications that define professional racket performance and the information gap between what pros appear to use and what they actually use.

Key Findings

1. Three Non-Changeable Racket Specifications Define the Frame

Previdi identifies three racket specifications that are fixed by the frame’s design and cannot be modified: length (maximum 29 inches, though most are 27), string pattern (the number of main and cross strings), and beam width (the thickness of the frame at its widest point). Everything else — grip size, string type, string tension, overgrip thickness — can be customized. Understanding these fixed specifications helps players and parents make informed equipment decisions.

2. Open String Patterns Drive Topspin Development

More open string patterns (16x18 or 16x19 versus 18x20) create more space between strings, allowing the ball to embed more deeply into the string bed on contact and generating significantly more topspin. For developing players learning modern groundstroke technique — which is built on heavy topspin — an open string pattern can accelerate development. Previdi recommends open patterns for junior players working on topspin groundstrokes.

3. RA Stiffness Scale as an Injury Risk Indicator

The RA stiffness scale measures how much a racket frame flexes on ball contact. Higher RA numbers indicate stiffer frames; lower numbers indicate more flexible frames. Previdi is direct about the injury implications: stiffer frames transmit more shock and vibration to the arm, increasing the risk of tennis elbow, wrist injuries, and shoulder problems with prolonged use. For junior players whose bodies are still developing, frame stiffness is a health consideration, not just a performance variable.

4. Professionals Paint Rackets to Misrepresent Their Equipment

One of the most revealing disclosures in the episode is Previdi’s confirmation that professional players routinely use rackets that are painted to look like different frames — often the racket their sponsor manufactures for the consumer market. In reality, the specs inside the paint job may be significantly different. Previdi explains this has multiple purposes: sponsor obligation compliance, competitive secrecy, and the reality that pros use custom-built frames that are not available to the public. This means junior players emulating their heroes by buying “their” racket are often not getting what they think.

5. String Selection Is More Consequential Than Racket Selection for Most Players

Previdi argues that for most developing players, string selection has a greater impact on performance and feel than the racket frame itself. String type (natural gut, synthetic gut, polyester, multifilament), gauge (thickness), and tension interact to produce the actual playing experience. Players who spend significant resources on expensive frames while stringing them with low-quality strings are making a poor equipment investment.

6. Junior Players Need Racket Fitting, Not Just Racket Purchasing

A consistent theme in Previdi’s advice is that junior players — especially those under 14 — should be fitted for a racket by a knowledgeable technician rather than simply purchasing whatever is popular or sponsor-promoted. Grip size, frame weight, balance point, and stiffness all need to match the player’s physical development stage. A racket that is too heavy, too stiff, or gripped incorrectly can impair development and cause injury.

Actionable Advice for Families

• Consult a certified racket technician (not just a retail salesperson) when selecting equipment for a junior player — the fitting process requires expertise
• For players developing topspin groundstrokes, prioritize open string patterns (16x18 or 16x19) over dense patterns
• Be aware of the RA stiffness rating when evaluating frames — high-stiffness frames increase injury risk for developing players and should be avoided
• Do not assume that buying the same racket your child’s favorite pro uses means they are getting the same equipment — pros often use custom specifications under standard paint jobs
• Invest in quality strings and professional stringing — the string bed, not the frame, is where the majority of the playing experience is determined

INTENNSE Relevance

• Player welfare: Previdi’s RA stiffness and injury risk data is directly relevant to INTENNSE’s duty of care for its players. The league should consider whether to provide equipment guidance as part of its player support infrastructure
• Equipment transparency: The revelation that pros use misrepresented rackets is a trust issue for the sport. INTENNSE’s commitment to authenticity and transparency — including mic’d coaches and visible game mechanics — is an opportunity to extend that transparency to equipment standards
• Performance infrastructure: Professional leagues provide equipment consultation and stringing services to players. As INTENNSE builds its operational infrastructure, equipment support (including professional stringing) is a relatively low-cost player service with significant performance and injury prevention value
• Fan education: Previdi’s content is exactly the kind of deep, accessible expert knowledge that INTENNSE fans would find compelling. The league’s content strategy should include equipment education — it drives engagement and positions INTENNSE as a serious tennis institution

Notable Quotes

“The racket your favorite pro appears to use and the racket they actually use are often very different things. The paint job is marketing. The specs inside are competitive secrets.”

“For a junior player, the string is more important than the frame. You can have the most expensive frame in the world and completely ruin it with cheap strings strung at the wrong tension.”