How do you know when to buy a new racquet?

[Ziggy925]

I'm now playing with a Prince racquet, recently restrung, that's 110 in size. I'm probably a 3.0 player, steadily improving, but at times I still hit the ball with the frame. While I'd love to get a new racquet I can't see spending the money unless I'm going to see an improvement.

I tried some demos from TW but didn't like them any better than what I have now, although a new Prince felt more familiar than the others. So, should I just keep playing with what I've got until virtually all my shots are off the strings and not the frame?

 

[rdis10093]

when you just get it back from the stringers and you cant even tell that you have new strings in, because the graphite is so broken down

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

If you like the frame you have now, stay with it for now. Work on watching the ball hit the strings and keep your head down at contact. Full stroke. Once your shots are consistently going deep or you find that your racket is too light, move onto a smaller head size that's slightly heavier. Don't jump the gun or over think it, which is what I do.

 

[Ziggy925]

when you just get it back from the stringers and you cant even tell that you have new strings in, because the graphite is so broken down

Interesting point. After the racquet was restrung it did feel much better.

 

[NickJ]

When? The perfect time is when the wife is out of the house and you can take delivery of the new stick and squirrel it away in your combi bag without her noticing a thing.

 

[Fedinkum]

When? The perfect time is when the wife is out of the house and you can take delivery of the new stick and squirrel it away in your combi bag without her noticing a thing.

I hate when the wife signs off a delivery package from TW

 

[Nostradamus]

I am thinking you should buy a new racket at least once every other year or so. If you play tennis regularly like 1-2 times per week, the graphite weakens over 2 year period and racket isn't the same.
Not sure if it is the repeated stringing or playing that takes the life out of the rackets over years time.

 

[oest10]

If you like the frame you have now, stay with it for now. Work on watching the ball hit the strings and keep your head down at contact. Full stroke. Once your shots are consistently going deep or you find that your racket is too light, move onto a smaller head size that's slightly heavier. Don't jump the gun or over think it, which is what I do.

The first advice you give is probably the worst ever. You can obviously follow the ball a long while to your racket but you'll never be able to see the contact point.

 

[ASH1485]

I hate when the wife signs off a delivery package from TW

well that never happens to me, i deliver everything to my office .

but the package does remain in the car for a couple of days until its safe to get out

 

[gwing]

well that never happens to me, i deliver everything to my office .

but the package does remain in the car for a couple of days until its safe to get out

I can recommend taking your Tennis holdall to work as well as having it delivered there

Mind you I'm expecting a bright yellow Rebel soon and there's no way that isn't going to be recognised as something new.

 

[NickJ]

I can recommend taking your Tennis holdall to work as well as having it delivered there

Mind you I'm expecting a bright yellow Rebel soon and there's no way that isn't going to be recognised as something new.

Very good advice guys. Have deliveries sent to work AND keep the combi in the car. She. Won't. Suspect. A. Thing . . . . Only danger is if car gets broken into by lowlife scum. Still that'd be a brilliant excuse for new racquets on the insurance!!

 

[Imago]

Usually, I am being urged to buy new rackets as they go together with new earrings, French perfume, or Russian caviar.

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

The first advice you give is probably the worst ever. You can obviously follow the ball a long while to your racket but you'll never be able to see the contact point.

Lol that's the intention, dude. If you try hard to see it hit the strings, you're more likely to not shank it.

 

[MikeHitsHard93]

I am thinking you should buy a new racket at least once every other year or so. If you play tennis regularly like 1-2 times per week, the graphite weakens over 2 year period and racket isn't the same.
Not sure if it is the repeated stringing or playing that takes the life out of the rackets over years time.

Restringing is way worse on a racket than hitting with it.

 

[prjacobs]

Considering you've demoed some new sticks and didn't see feel any marked difference, it sounds like you don't need a new frame now. Personally, I never found a frame to wear out. I played 3X a week for eight years with the same two identical frames and only changed racquets after realizing that I played better with a frame lighter than 12.9 ounces.
I know that people always say this and pardon me in advance but ...
Maybe some lessons might be fun for you. Having someone with a great eye and instincts for the game look at what you do is always worth it - at least for me....

 

[mmk]

I am thinking you should buy a new racket at least once every other year or so. If you play tennis regularly like 1-2 times per week, the graphite weakens over 2 year period and racket isn't the same.
Not sure if it is the repeated stringing or playing that takes the life out of the rackets over years time.

Any studies on this? Graphite bicycle frames last longer than 2 years, and I would bet they are subject to more stress than a racquet.

 

[movdqa]

I have my racquets delivered to my office.

I have some aluminum racquets that I take out from time to time to hit with. These are from the 1970s or 1980s and saw a lot of use. Tennis racquets can take a lot of use and abuse - if you're a 3.0, then I doubt that the graphite has broken down.

I'd consider spending money on lessons over buying a new racquet.

 

[Bdarb]

I can recommend taking your Tennis holdall to work as well as having it delivered there

Mind you I'm expecting a bright yellow Rebel soon and there's no way that isn't going to be recognised as something new.

hahahah brilliant. TT has been a big help. "babe this was used I paid 40 bucks for it. I traded an old racquet for that.."

Luckily there isn't much time spent in the man cave stringing room where the pile of sticks does indeed seem to be growing ha

 

[RetroSpin]

The first advice you give is probably the worst ever. You can obviously follow the ball a long while to your racket but you'll never be able to see the contact point.

I thought it was pretty good advice.

 

[RetroSpin]

I am thinking you should buy a new racket at least once every other year or so. If you play tennis regularly like 1-2 times per week, the graphite weakens over 2 year period and racket isn't the same.
Not sure if it is the repeated stringing or playing that takes the life out of the rackets over years time.

I've heard this before, and I put it in the myth category. I'm not overly sensitive to frame stiffness, strings etc so I'm not the best judge, but I have racquets that are 20+ years old and they play fine. Certainly a 3.0 like the OP is not going to be able to tell a difference.

Are you saying the frame loses stiffness or what? It shuld be relatively easy to confirm, and if it were true, I would expect all the racquet companies and retailers to be trumpeting it.

 

[wfareed]

When? The perfect time is when the wife is out of the house and you can take delivery of the new stick and squirrel it away in your combi bag without her noticing a thing.

ROFL , That is really a prefect timing

 

[Ziggy925]

This forum is amazing. 30 seconds after posting my question I started getting answers, not only on whether I should buy a new racquet but how to hide it from my wife.

Actually, most of my playing is in a group lesson -- lessons for the first half of class and playing singles and doubles for the second. My problem might be since I'm getting better at placing the ball where I want, I'm looking at where I want the ball to go instead of following the ball to the racquet. You guys have made me think about what I'm doing, and I'm receiving a soft ball, seeing a sure winning shot and shanking it. Difficult shots seem to be square on the racquet -- just trying to get it back over the net.

I think I'm going to keep the racquet I have now, work on less shots off the frame, and then consider a new racquet. When it comes I'll have it delivered to the office. :twisted:

Thanks for some great answers. Helped a lot.

 

[prjacobs]

Good luck. I'd suggest you ask the person or people teaching you. They know your game best. (Let's hope

 

[Rabbit]

there's a little guy who appears in a red suit on my shoulder. all I hear is "buy, buy, buy" until I do.

 

[Bdarb]

When I'm shanking, it's usually always lazy footwork. It's funny you said the easy shots where you see where it's going to go you miss but I'm guess that conversely, quick shots where you don't have time to think, you're fine more? Again for me, this usually has to do with getting in the right position.

Happy hitting. Good luck on your quest for goatstickdom.