A Phoenix From The Ashes
It was the last place you expect to find it but then again a flea market is a place where you can expect to find the unexpected.
The moment the object caught my eye, I immediately took upon myself to resurrect it. The Yamaha Secret series is really no secret to me, having previously owned an oversize 05 (sold, regrettably) but the one beckoning before me was different in model as well as frame size and material composition that I never knew existed.
In dark-grey charcoal, the frame has a textured matte finish to it, much like fine sandpaper but without an abrasive feel. Heavy, it welds literally like a club and murderous thoughts started to filter through my mind on its usage other than what it was intended for.
I took this cast iron out for a dance or two and I came away convinced this indestructible thing is thing of destruction. Twice it dislodged my opponent’s racquet from his grip. I believe that was possible only because of the ballistic velocity generated by the sheer weight of the racquet, the stiffness of the frame and the re-stringing at 60 lbs tension. This racquet plays like no other in directional placement, i.e. the ball will go in the direction you intended it with little deflection particularly on flat hits. This barbaric relic is to be relished for its precision. It means business. They don’t make racquets like this anymore. Instead, what they have come up with are cluttered with gimmicky or attention-seeking details under the guise of new technologies to cook up a hype, a gigantic PR job.
I have been a user of HH light racquets. The hammer system has its merits in that its heavy tip enables quick racquet head acceleration in serving and, in baseline rallies, one can keep bashing away once the rhythm is established. However, it feels clumsy and cumbersome going to the net because it tends to tilt unless one makes a conscientious effort to 'uphold' it.
In contrast, a HL heavy smaller frame enables the user to charge the net from the baseline without feeling clumsy or crammed in the arm. And in countering a drop shot or a short and slow ball, he could conceal his intention until the last moment or make a quick and sudden change in decision. Narrowed down to one word, it is maneuverability.
This racquet will be my main-stay. After toying with so many racquets, if I have to single out only one characteristic that most affects play, it is stiffness of frame. And I don't think there is any stiffer than 04.
Yamaha Secret-04 Racquet Made by Yamaha Mfg. Singapore
New conceptual design makes the difference you can feel.
From Tennis Magazine July 1988:
"Yamaha build the Secret by combining “high resonance” technology with Hi-Modulus graphite which is 25% more rigid than normal graphite. This combination of design and materials enables the Secret to capture and relay more energy to the ball. We are introducing the Secret in just one size. The right size. 100 square inches. And 85% of that is pure sweet spot. In the head and throat areas the Secret gives you ball response that is 70% greater than a conventional racquet. More controlled power than any other racquet."
Secret-04 has a very stiff frame with a flex time comparable to the ball contact time. Which means that it restore the original shape at the time when the ball rebounds. This adds up to 11% to the ball speed (according to Yamaha) and increases the sweet spot size. This model competed directly with another very stiff widebody racquet - the Wilson Profile.
| Tennis Racquet Specification Table | |
| Brand: | Yamaha Secret-04 Racquet |
| Short Description: | Players with big ground strokes will appreciate the frame’s solid and predictable performance. Yet it also delivers nice touch on volleys and a comfortable overall playability. Its design and construction make the racquet surprisingly quiet with little shock or vibration. (1988 Tennis Magazine) |
| Head Size: | 100 in2 / 645 cm2 |
| Length: | 27 in / 686 mm |
| Unstrung Weight: | 12.3 oz / 350 g |
| Unstrung Balance: | 6 pts HL / 315 mm |
| Composition: | High Modulus Graphite / Hi-Resonant Frame Design |
| Beam Width: | 25 mm Straight Beam |
| Power Level: | Medium – High |
| Stiffness: | 81 (Very Firm) |
| Swing Type: | Moderate – Fast |
| Swing Weight: | 327 |
| String Pattern: | 16 mains / 18 crosses |
| Grip Type: | Yamaha synthetic grip |
| String Tension: | 50 - 60 lbs / 22.7 – 27.2 kg recommended |
| Tennis Magazine decimal rating system from 1989 playability profile (1 – min / 5 – max) | |
| Stiffness: | 5.0 |
| Maneuverability: | 4.3 |
| Ball Control: | 4.5 |
| Vibration Damping: | 4.5 |
Secret-04 racquet became available in the summer of 1988 at $225 retail price.
UNQUOTE
posted by Victor Lai @ 12:40 AM
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