ROGER RACQUET

Tennis fans may lust after Roger Federer’s racket strung with Roger Federer’s string. But if they bought a racket customized to his specifications, they might regret the choice.

For one thing, such a racket would be hard to control. “You either have to have a real Roger Federer fetish or really good skills,” said Nate Ferguson of Priority 1, based in Florida, who does customization work for Federer and other top professionals like Novak Djokovic. “Of the 100 guys out there at the top of the game, none of them play with Roger’s racket.”

Ordering a racket strung the Federer way is a bit like ordering a Starbucks coffee. Just ask for “a Wilson 16 gauge gut main string and a Luxilon Big Banger ALU Power Rough cross string,” and then hope you won’t have to say it again.

This configuration – gut mains and polyester crosses - is opposite to what is generally recommended by stringers – polyester mains and gut or nylon crosses. The racket itself is a Wilson K Factor Six One Tour with a 90-square-inch head. The precise weight of his customized racket is a secret. This racquet is very heavy around 13 ounces. Most racquets weigh in around 9 ½ ounces.

Assuming you’ve overcome the hurdle of ordering the strings, you would also need a bit of cash.

Federer is plays with 12 rackets, swapping on or near every ball change and alternating string tension depending on the bounce of the ball (and his mood), so a full arsenal of customized Federer rackets would cost about $3,500, including the cost of the rackets.