Grigor Dimitrov’s Tennis Racquet
Over the last few years, Grigor Dimitrov has solidified himself as one of the most dangerous players to face on the ATP tour. Even though he has not found a way to win a Grand Slam title just yet, he has two semifinal appearances, and 10 ATP singles titles to his name.
With beautiful strokes and a powerful one-handed backhand, people have always compared his style of play to Roger Federer. It’s a style many would love to emulate, and a good place to start is with his racquet.
What racquet does Grigor Dimitrov use? Grigor Dimitrov currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail racquet. Dimitrov plays with a similar racquet to the stock option, although he has used a smaller head size and a different string pattern during the last year.
Is Dimitrov’s Racquet Actually What It Looks Like?
Well, it depends on exactly what is going on in the mind of Grigor Dimitrov at the time. Things have not been smooth sailing for him over the last few years, and with inconsistent play, that means he is constantly messing around with different setups. Both 2018 and 2019 has been a disappointment for him, with injuries and early exits at major tournaments.
To try to figure things out, he has gone back-and-forth from his current set up that very much mimics the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail, and an older racquet that is 93 square inches and an 18 x 17 string pattern. Unlike a lot of other pros, Wilson has decided to not hide the change under a paint job. Instead, it is pretty clear when he is using a different racquet, because it is black with red accents instead of the Countervail, which is black with white accents.
When he is using the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail, he makes a few adjustments that fit his game a bit better. The weight of the racquet is a bit heavier, and he enjoys his racquet to be a little less stiff than the stock model. Other than that, he’s using the same type of racquet that a customer can purchase.
Grigor Dimitrov Racquet Specs
Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail Specs
- Head Size: 97 sq in
- Length: 27 in
- Weight: 11.7 oz (331g)
- Tension: 50-60 Pounds
- Balance: 10 Pts Head Light
- Beam Width: 21.5mm
- String Pattern: 18 Mains/ 19 Crosses
- Swing Weight: 318
As one can see, this racquet seems built for players who like a slightly smaller head size, which provides great stability and power that is extremely controllable. It is also one of the best fuel racquets for any player who enjoys that extra added touch.
Dimitrov likes to string his racquet with a hybrid format of Wilson Natural Gut and Luxilon 4G. Having it around 53 to 55 pounds is usually where he likes to stay, although it can change some words depending on the tournament and the current weather conditions.
Grigor Dimitrov Racquet Review
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail has been out for a while now, and a lot of people like the overall feel of this option compared to the very similar RF 97 Autograph. These two racquets are hard not to compare, as they share a lot of similarities. However, this option is slightly lighter, and therefore moves a little faster compared to the officially endorsed option from Federer. This makes it a better player racquet for some people, while others enjoy that extra power.
Serve
This racquet won’t blow people away with its ability to serve, but it is a very stable racquet that helps out nearly any type of player. It has added control, which is nice for those players who might not be getting in that many serves consistently. The feel of the racquet when a good serve is hit helps to give feedback.
If a player doesn’t hit with a lot of power on the serve, this racquet is not going to help all that much. The lack of free power this racquet provides is noticeable. It does a decent job, but there are options out there that help out with power just a little bit more. Even though it swings pretty light, there is not enough heft behind shots to make an impact.
Groundstrokes
The groundstrokes are pretty consistent with the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail, allowing players to add spin with ease, get great response and hit a variety of shots. This is extremely maneuverable racquet, so a player never feels like they are stuck in a tricky situation.
If there is one negative on the ground, it is the feel off of the strings at times. The string pattern is a little too open for some people, and that extra grip acts as a negative. Instead of knowing exactly where the balls going, if feels like a person loses a little bit of control.
Some people get used to how the racquet plays, and they make adjustments according to everything else. Don’t be afraid to mess around with a few different customizable options and see what exactly works.
Volleys
Some players might worry about using just a 97 square inch racquet for volleys, but it usually works out just fine. It has great stability, and a good amount of balance that makes it easy to move around and block balls when needed. Players don’t have to take full swings and valleys to make them go where they want. Instead, they can let the racquet do a lot of the work, absorbing and redirecting power.
If a player is not hitting the ball that well, the racquet lets an individual now. This is a racquet that players need to use properly to maximize its effectiveness. If a player constantly misses hitting balls and not getting the sweet spot, it might be worth looking at a different option. This is a more advanced racquet, and it is especially apparent with volleys.
Who Should Use Grigor Dimitrov’s Racquet?
Most people who are looking at the Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail will also be at least somewhat considering the RF 97 autographed version. They are very similar, but this is a more player-friendly racquet for a little more forgiveness.
Using a 97 square inch racquet is a little difficult for some people, since the average size seems to be right around 100 square inches right now. This is not going to be much of an issue for people who can consistently hit the sweet spot, but some people enjoy that extra amount of forgiveness that bigger head sizes provide.
The racquet is very easy to customize, which is another bonus for players who might not like the set up in stock for them. Add some lead tape around the racquet to mess with the swingweight a little bit, and add a little extra power overall. Power is always a good thing for a lot of players, as long as they can still control the racquet.
Compared to a lot of similar racquets produced by Wilson, this is definitely for a pretty advanced player. Most intermediate players are going to gravitate towards a racquet with a slightly bigger head size, and something with a bit more free power.
Can You Buy Dimitrov’s Racquet?
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 Countervail has been out for about a year now, and it has been one of the top sellers for Wilson overall. A lot of different players have enjoyed playing with it, and it sits right in the middle of pricing as far as performance racquets are concerned.
For those people trying to find the other racquet Dimitrov plays with at times, that would be pretty tricky. Wilson no longer makes the exact model, and it’s generally considered too small for the average player these days anyway. However, the racquet that Dimitrov usually plays with are available on many sites.
The price differ a lot depending on where you choose to buy it from, but as I’m writing this, I found the cheapest price on Amazon. Take a look at the current price and compare, because the prices are constantly changing.
Final Thoughts
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 racquet is a polarizing option. Some people love this racquet, and they feel like it is almost created specifically for them. Others can’t get the right feel for it at all, and pretty quickly they realize that it is not something they want to continue trying out.
For anyone in the market for a new racquet, it is worth giving a demo to see how it feels in the hand. The majority of people will know pretty quickly if it is something they really could play with consistently. There is nothing wrong with going with a bigger head size, but the 97 square inch model is still available for those who love the added control and a hint of old school feel.
Also Read: What Tennis Shoes Does Grigor Dimitrov Wear?
