Breaking in a racket?

[Up&comer]

To preface this, I am not a big racket junkie, so forgive any ignorance about this.

I break strings quite a bit, so I obviously have to restring quite frequently. Every time I get a new racket of the same model, I feel I have to restring it a number of times to get it to feel the same as my other rackets. Generally I use something like forten nylon and restring the racket until it feels right. It's not the new grommets, but the frame itself that feels stiffer and different.

I was wondering:

1) Does anyone else experience this?

2) Is there a better or faster way to break my rackets in?

[movdqa]

I don't run into this but that may have something to do with the weight.

You could just buy all of your frames at once and then use them evenly to keep the wear roughly the same. Kind of like rotating your tires every 5,000 miles.

[esgee48]

Sounds like you do not like your racquet when they feel fresh from the factory. Stringing them frequently until they feel right 'fatigues' the hoop (softens them.) Perhaps this is what you are seeking.

The racquet you play with the most will exhibit the most fatigue in the hoop and shaft as the resins holding the graphite develop micro-fractures.

As far as finding new racquets that feel like old racquets, that ain't going to happen. Best bet is to find a used racquet in good condition so you don't have to restring so often. HTH

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by movdqa

I don't run into this but that may have something to do with the weight.

You could just buy all of your frames at once and then use them evenly to keep the wear roughly the same. Kind of like rotating your tires every 5,000 miles.

Problem is I don't ever have the money to buy several at once. In young and I have to pay for them myself. Other things tend to take precedent over a new racket (like new strings )

Originally Posted by esgee48

Sounds like you do not like your racquet when they feel fresh from the factory. Stringing them frequently until they feel right 'fatigues' the hoop (softens them.) Perhaps this is what you are seeking.

That's exactly what I'm seeking. I've bought used rackets before, the problem is finding one in my grip size. I also like having a racket that I know I've treated well, and not one that has been banged on a court repetitively.

[ChicagoJack]

What's this? U and C is in the racquet section? I feel like I've just seen a Yeti. Kidding aside, what's your racquet?

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by ChicagoJack

What's this? U and C is in the racquet section? I feel like I've just seen a Yeti. Kidding aside, what's your racquet?

I'd prefer the term Sasquatch .

Currently using the exo3 tour 16x18.

[Up&comer]

Anyone know of a good way of breaking in frames?

[Doubles]

I would just suggest restringing your frames with something cheap like nylon over and over again until it feels right. Other than that, you don't have many other options besides buying used rackets, but you knew this all before I said it.

[Up&comer]

Originally Posted by Doubles

I would just suggest restringing your frames with something cheap like nylon over and over again until it feels right. Other than that, you don't have many other options besides buying used rackets, but you knew this all before I said it.

Ah well. I was just hoping there was an easier way of doing it.

[LeeD]

New racket, string it 5 lbs less.
New string job, 2 lbs less.
String job + grommet, 3 lbs less.

[tlm]

Originally Posted by Up&comer

To preface this, I am not a big racket junkie, so forgive any ignorance about this.

I break strings quite a bit, so I obviously have to restring quite frequently. Every time I get a new racket of the same model, I feel I have to restring it a number of times to get it to feel the same as my other rackets. Generally I use something like forten nylon and restring the racket until it feels right. It's not the new grommets, but the frame itself that feels stiffer and different.

I was wondering:

1) Does anyone else experience this?

2) Is there a better or faster way to break my rackets in?

I have noticed the same thing, when brand new the racket does not feel the same as the one I am using that is already broken in.

[shaneno]

Hey there i pop my string every 4 days, so i know how u feel.
i had the wilson ksix-one tour 90 i recently upgraded to the wilson BLX Prostaff six.one tour 90. and it feel SO! different. it not that the newer models has to be strung it just has to be customized to ur needs. i added lead to my wilson BLX Prostaff six.one tour 90 to fit my needs, but people call me crazy because my racket weight 12.6 and adding weight make it maybe 12.8 like my ksixone tour. So it might need lead or it could be ur arm. i had that feeling lots of time with racket that they feel different a lot, but it on u to think about it.

Hope i helped!

Originally Posted by Up&comer

To preface this, I am not a big racket junkie, so forgive any ignorance about this.

I break strings quite a bit, so I obviously have to restring quite frequently. Every time I get a new racket of the same model, I feel I have to restring it a number of times to get it to feel the same as my other rackets. Generally I use something like forten nylon and restring the racket until it feels right. It's not the new grommets, but the frame itself that feels stiffer and different.

I was wondering:

1) Does anyone else experience this?

2) Is there a better or faster way to break my rackets in?

[LeeD]

It's the grommet and the new strings not settled in yet.
Some very good players like to carefully stand on their strings if they haven't played that racket in weeks.