How many racquets do you need in your bag

[steve s]

I have been using a backpack that hold two sticks. I am not a string breaker, then bang bang. Broke three mains in the first, two mains in the second. Think about four game between events.

How many have you broken in one match?? How many sticks in your bag?

 

[Ihatetennis]

I have been using a backpack that hold two sticks. I am not a string breaker, then bang bang. Broke three mains in the first, two mains in the second. Think about four game between events.

How many have you broken in one match?? How many sticks in your bag?

The most I've broken in a match is 5

I switched from poly to kevlar and only have 3 matches freshly strung rackets

But I have a 15 racket bag to hold everything I need...clothes reels of string and other things I could need

 

[LeeD]

Need? One.
Prefer to bring, at least 3.
And keep an eye on your strings, when you got them strung, and of course, their condition.

 

[bigserving]

Three new, three older. Normally restring before they break

 

[jonestim]

Read away:

Jolly's thread.

 

[AMGF]

I use 3. Two matched and the other one I use it to test new strings or/and tension.

Never broke 3 string bed in a match. But I keep an eye on my strings condition and hours of play.

 

[n8dawg6]

2 rax in a backpack. in case one of them gets broken ...

 

[Chadillac]

2 is fine unless your playing a tournament and stringing your own racket. Currently 3 ncode95, 1 blx blade 98 and 2 rf97's. Getting used to the rf's.

I broke 6 sets when i was a junior and lost in 3 sets, had to use the desks wilson sting. Wilson profile (open) used to eat them up.

 

[Cerps]

To matches I always bring 4 these days. I used to bring three but since I broke the strings in 3 racquets during one practice I decided it would be better to use 4...

 

[Zoolander]

I have been using a backpack that hold two sticks. I am not a string breaker, then bang bang. Broke three mains in the first, two mains in the second. Think about four game between events.

How many have you broken in one match?? How many sticks in your bag?

How did you manage to break 3 mains in one racquet? Were you bashing the net post with it?

Never managed to break more than one main at a time. Maybe im just not trying hard enough.

 

[downdaline]

Regular hitting - 2 racquets. My main stick (see sig) and a spare for rainy days (Prince TT Warrior with full Alu Power).

Matches - 2 of my main sticks.

 

[The_Racketeer]

I'm not a string breaker either. I bring 3. You never know when you're gonna shank one and pop a string and then snap the strings on your backup because it was fraying and you hadn't strung it in a while. Also, my 3rd racquet is usually a string test racquet.

 

[mavsman149]

The most I've ever broken is 3 in one match so I bring 4 of the same stick with me everytime. It feels a bit like overkill but I hate having to switch to a different type of racket mid match.

 

[donquijote]

I usually have three just because I keep them in my tennis bag all the time but you don't need more than two unless you are a regular string breaker.
When I go with my backpack for a casual play, sometimes I have two and sometimes only one. Can be risky but it is convenient. Worst case my friend has a spare racquet lol.

 

[ultradr]

The most I've ever broken has been 2. I carry up to 3 frames.

 

[mhkeuns]

I think three or four is a safe bet if multi-filament is involved. I am not a string breaker by any means, but since I have been trying muti mains with poly crosses, string's been breaking less than three hours of play. Love the feel, but I think poly mains and multi crosses seem to last longer. As far as full-poly goes, I don't know if it's just me, but I can't feel the ball like I would with synthetic gut...

 

[PeterFig]

I have 6 in my bag right now. All Wilson (of course) and all different!

Pro Staff 97S
Pro Staff RF97
Pro Staff 90
Pro Staff 85
Blade 98S
Burn 100S

The Pro Staff 97S is my main stick right now but depending on who I'm hitting with or how serious it is I'll play with any of the other 5. I used to be more particular about having 3-4 matched racquets but I've been fortunate to be able to try a bunch of different frames and strings lately that I'm a lot less picky now and used to playing with whatever I grab from the bag.

 

[DJTaurus]

I have 6 in my bag right now. All Wilson (of course) and all different!

Pro Staff 97S
Pro Staff RF97
Pro Staff 90
Pro Staff 85
Blade 98S
Burn 100S

The Pro Staff 97S is my main stick right now but depending on who I'm hitting with or how serious it is I'll play with any of the other 5. I used to be more particular about having 3-4 matched racquets but I've been fortunate to be able to try a bunch of different frames and strings lately that I'm a lot less picky now and used to playing with whatever I grab from the bag.

Any comparison between blade98s and ps97s ?

 

[zapvor]

I usually pack 1 or 2. but most places I go to have demos so I am not too worried

 

[PeterFig]

Any comparison between blade98s and ps97s ?

If you look at specs alone one would think they should play quite similar. However there are (for me) three main differences:

- Blade is more powerful
- Blade noticeably produces more spin
- Pro Staff has more touch / feel

Hope that helps

 

[hrstrat57]

I bag 3 tho I just switched recently from 18x20 frames to an open pattern....we shall see if I need a 4th. I have 2 with poly and the third with natty gut.

I bagged POG mid back in the day and broke strings on 3 frames in a 10 minute period. The only frame avail to borrow in order to complete the match was a Wilson Profile mid. Plugged 3 balls in the fence behind the baseline and shook the guys hand.

Done. Sold the POG mids and moved on.

 

[n8dawg6]

As far as full-poly goes, I don't know if it's just me, but I can't feel the ball like I would with synthetic gut...

That's interesting. I've been doing some back and forth with synthetic gut and poly. the synthetic gut is easier on my arm, but, it has a springy feel to it that makes control a little more iffy to me. poly has a very linear feel. I am pleased with the results I can get from cheap synthetic gut though. I don't think I've ever lost a match because I was using syn gut instead of poly, lets put it that way.

 

[Muppet]

I carry 5 racquets because I can fit them in my bag, with enough room for everything else. 4 of them are similar 200 series Dunlops. The last one is an old Dunlop Black Max II 90". I keep switching the strings around on all the racquets, but I think I'm narrowing down to a few that I really like. I like switching out racquets while playing, but unfortunately the variety is getting in the way of my consistency. I'm not what I would call a string breaker, so perhaps I should limit myself to 2 similar racquets each time I go to the courts.

 

[Chris tennis52]

I use 3. Two matched and the other one I use it to test new strings or/and tension.

I do this also. Have the two matched incase I break a string in a match so theres no adjustment period. The other one is great to have because I'm addicted to trying all the strings I see in the TW reviews.

 

[kimguroo]

I use 3. Two matched and the other one I use it to test new strings or/and tension.

Never broke 3 string bed in a match. But I keep an eye on my strings condition and hours of play.

Exactly what I am doing right now. I am not a string breaker and never broke three strings in a session or match.
I used to carry 5-7 rackets but I carry three same rackets nowadays.

 

[FoldingChair]

at least two in the bag for me. On many occasions i've snapped a string and had to go to the other

 

[mhkeuns]

That's interesting. I've been doing some back and forth with synthetic gut and poly. the synthetic gut is easier on my arm, but, it has a springy feel to it that makes control a little more iffy to me. poly has a very linear feel. I am pleased with the results I can get from cheap synthetic gut though. I don't think I've ever lost a match because I was using syn gut instead of poly, lets put it that way.

There is that crisp sort of feel with poly strings that I guess some prefer, but I just prefer the softer string feel of synthetic gut. To me, poly strings feel a bit boardy...

 

[tk243]

However many I can fit +1

 

[PBODY99]

Match play, I carry 4 matched frames.
The most I ever broke in a tournament day is 4 on a hot dry day on clay, using Bard Jade Fires in the 1980's.

 

[Dags]

I have been using a backpack that hold two sticks. I am not a string breaker, then bang bang. Broke three mains in the first, two mains in the second. Think about four game between events.

I usually carry two. Based on your description, it sounds like you rotate racquets so that they have even wear. You've now discovered the danger of this: if the strings on one break, then you'll also be pretty close to breaking the strings on the other. String last a couple of weeks for me, and always play one racquet until it breaks and then switch to the fresh one. When I play the occasional tournament, I tend to restring both before playing.

How did you manage to break 3 mains in one racquet? Were you bashing the net post with it?

Never managed to break more than one main at a time. Maybe im just not trying hard enough.

Multiple breaks are often down to the type of string. I once experimented with a multi/poly hybrid, where the multi was 1.18mm (and I really have it for squash racquets). As you play, you'll get notching across all the mains - when one breaks, there's a large release of energy, and if the other strings are close enough to snapping then they can go at the same time. I managed five at once in that setup... played great, but as you can imagine I didn't get much time out of them! With sensible strings, I almost always only break one, very occasionally two.

 

[Sparky]

Read away:

Jolly's thread.

The is a great reference post. The moderators should make it a sticky post.

 

[edman9898]

Depends on what they're stung with?

 

[avocadoz]

Two just to balance out my tennis bag and hold its shape but I rarely need to use the second one. My string and tension go long before it would snap, so I'd string em up before they'd even break.

 

[Seth]

If Edberg only needs three, why should any of us need more?

 

[teekaywhy]

If you've got more than three of the same kind and not playing in a tournament or match, I guess you gotta ask yourself why.
I can see carrying around a few different ones for giggles.

 

[GregSV]

You need two, but four is double fun.

 

[Turbo-87]

I keep the two I own and they are nothing alike. Weird but fun.

 

[Tristan Meadows]

I keep 3 racquets in mine.

 

[SeeItHitIt]

Four: PS97, RF97, Ai98, 6.1.95 18x20.

I figure if I cant serve with the RF, I go to the PS. If that doesn't work the Ai comes out. If I'm all over the place but can serve with the RF, I pull out the 6.1. If I'm having a good day I say it has nothing to do with the stick. I string myself and not a string breaker. In the event I do pop one in a match I've always hoped it's mixed and I'm serving to the lady at the time .