There is a difference between passion and obsession. How do you know my level? or How many times I play a week? I enjoy the game of tennis, have been playing for 18 years (since I was 10), I try to play 3-5 times a week, belong to a club and sign up for and qualify for local tournies. Lendl was the first mad man who first started to change racquets every time balls were changed, Davydenko recently won miami with one racquet. But the pros are different, I can understand why they would need more than one or two racquets, but for us 1 or 2 racquets should suffice, we are not competing for large sums of money, wimbeldon or garros, this is not what we do for a living. For us, who have jobs, families and other greater responsibilities. Its mostly mental, I've never seen a player lose a match beacuse his gear was inadequate or win a match because of superior gear, its all about confidence and footwork. So, for those of us who dont earn a living on points (everyone on these boards), 1 or 2 racquets will get the job done, anything more is an obsession, compulsive in nature. Just my opinion.
Look...I'm not trying to pick a fight ... but I've seen people lose because of equipment. Usually it's because:
1) Like yourself they have one racket ... they break the strings and then forfeit the game because the opponent can't give them any racket (because of the same reason). That leaves 2 frustrated players ... with maybe a couple of hours left to play
2) Like yourself they have one racket...they break the strings ... they borrow a totally different racket from their opponent or playing partner (in doubles) and they can't play with it worth a sh1t so they lose.
That's about it...because if somebody is playing with their own racket ... it's not the racket that loses the game ... it's the player. Don't give me the "a good player plays well with anything" speech...I know all that, I know a semi-pro will beat an amateur 10 times out of 10 with a frying pan, but I'm talking about similar (identical) levels here...and at similar levels...a guy who plays me with a Prestige (regular racket)...breaks strings and has to play with a Ti s6 will LOSE 9 times out of 10.
I think that 3 rackets is enough for most players. I usually rotate 3 of them. Reason? I play with synthetic strings (multi) and break them on a pretty regular basis. I usually have 2 rackets strung at my reference (usual) tension and one racket strung looser (in the winter) and tighter (in the summer).
If I break strings in one of the "usual" ones, I can pick up the other. During the summer heat ... I may experience problems with control (i.e the ball flies on me) against certain opponents. I then pick up the racket that's strung a bit tighter.
In the winter cold...I do it the other way around ... as strings/balls may feel more "dead" than usual depending on temperature I have the option to pick up the 3rd racket strung a bit looser (for a bit more depth and/or comfort).
I'm sure you'll agree all of the above are logical reasons for needing 3 rackets.
The fact that you've played for the last 18 years says nothing about the level of your play...there are probably loads of people who played for 3-4 years and can run you around the court, depending on their athletic ability, current fitness level and the fact that they may actually PRACTICE sometimes instead of playing sets with the same hitting partners for fun.
I'm not saying this is YOU since I don't know you personally, but I know people who played regularly for the last 30 years and they still play at an EXTREMELY low level...because they play with the same partners...at the same low level and for fun only. They never practice ... and the beer(s) after the game are probably more important for them than the actual tennis game.
The fact that you say you can act as "referee" if you break strings leads me to believe that you are part of one of these groups ... and play mostly doubles.
If I play singles ... only have one racket and break strings in the middle of the first set ... I will have one VERY frustrated playing partner on the other side of the net.
Just some things to think about before mistaking somebody else's passion for "obsession".
