The release of a new signature racquet is typically a static event. A pro player and a manufacturer spend months (or years) working behind closed doors, only to present a final product to the market with a polished marketing campaign. The development process is opaque, and the product is considered “finished.”
Diadem Sports, in collaboration with ATP pro Alexander Bublik, has taken a different approach with their latest initiative: Project Bublik. Rather than treating the development process as a secret to be hidden until launch, they have turned part of that process into the product itself.
Development as a Process
Diadem explicitly frames Project Bublik not as a conclusion, but as a “checkpoint.”
The intent is to offer players a look at the ongoing technical evolution of a professional player’s frame as it is being tuned to Bublik’s specific preferences. What this will show is that racquet development is rarely a one-time achievement, but rather an iterative process of testing, tweaking and refining over time.
For us players, it means buying into a snapshot of the current development phase. The frames available today – the Team 100, the 100 and the 98 – are fully manufactured, playable retail racquets, but they are also deliberately positioned as part of a larger, ongoing development process rather than as Bublik’s final signature frame.
The Range
The current range offers three configurations, all priced identically, where you can select a frame based on your preferred combination of maneuverability, power and control.
Project Bublik Team 100 (280 g): The lightest of the three reported versions, with a 100 sq in head, 16×19 string pattern, 4-point head-light balance and listed RA 64. It should offer the easiest maneuverability and quickest swing speed of the lineup.
Project Bublik 100 (300 g): The heavier 100 sq in version, retaining the 16×19 pattern and reported 4-point head-light balance. Its additional mass should provide greater stability and plow-through than the Team version.
Project Bublik 98 (302 g): The smaller-headed, more control-oriented version, reportedly using a 98 sq in head, 16×20 pattern and 6-point head-light balance. Its reported RA 67 makes it the stiffest of the three, versus RA 64 for the two 100 sq in versions.
The differences are therefore more than simply weight. The three frames represent distinct approaches to the same developing platform, giving players a choice between easier maneuverability, additional mass or a more controlled response.
| Specification | Project Bublik Team 100 | Project Bublik 100 | Project Bublik 98 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head size | 100 in² | 100 in² | 98 in² |
| Strung weight | 9.9 oz / 280 g | 10.6 oz / 300 g | 10.7 oz / 302 g |
| Balance | 4 pts HL / 330 mm | 4 pts HL / 330 mm | 6 pts HL / 323 mm |
| Stiffness | 64 | 64 | 67 |
| String pattern | 16 × 19 | 16 × 19 | 16 × 20 |
| Grip sizes | L0–L3 | L1–L4 | L1–L4 |
The success of this model rests on transparency around the development cycle. Rather than presenting the first commercially available version as the definitive Bublik racquet, Diadem is openly acknowledging that the design will continue to evolve.
That approach also invites players into the process. Players can experience the current iteration while knowing that future versions may change as Bublik and Diadem continue refining the frame.
Whether this “building in public” model will become a standard approach for other brands remains to be seen. It requires a significant amount of brand confidence and a willingness to share product details.
In Bublik’s own words: “It’s not finished yet. We’re still refining, still pushing, still chasing perfection. But I wanted you to be part of that process.”
They are all priced around $270, find them here at the Diadem website, enter the code TENNISNERD15 at checkout for 15% off.
What do you think about the idea and the overall design? Let us know in the comments.
