Racquet factories

[Crocodile]

Has anyone here on this forum visited a factory where racquets are being made?
With most brands coming out of China I was wondering whether each of the major companies have their own place, or do some share the same place.
I'm interested in how a racquet company can come up with new technology or idea or cosmetic, then convert this to production in a way that can give them a sales advantage over a rival, or surprise the market with a product that has a Jump in the market.

 

[ollinger]

Factories tend not to be open to the public, for various reasons such as safety and liability, theft, piracy of corporate methods, paranoia, the list goes on.......

 

[PrinceMoron]

Take a break in St Vincent and see the real deal.

 

[GBplayer]

Even if different manufacturers use the same factory, they can be made using completely different methods on different production lines!

 

[esgee48]

OP: You answered your own question. Most companies have their own R&D section. They are capable of building small numbers of frames there so their characteristics can be tested. If they like what they developed, then the specifications are bundled up and sent out to factories for mass production which is where QC becomes very important. I am pretty sure the factories all have NDAs in place just so that more than one racquet company can use their production lines. The actual layup of the frames is still labor intensive, which is why QC continues to be important. 3 cents due to inflation.

 

[dr325i]

Just like any fab (rackets or chips or...), their business model is to manufacture (under an NDA) and they have no brand behind them to be successful producing and branding rackets for retail.
I don't think there is a single brand racket factory in china.

 

[Bartelby]

I was at my local Chinese take-away and they let me around the back where the racquets are made.

 

[Bartelby]

The more interesting fact is that there is at least one design studio designing racquets for two different companies.

 

[frinton]

The more interesting fact is that there is at least one design studio designing racquets for two different companies.

Graphics or racket design?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chrisb]

Racket improvement over the past 30 years has been trivial, marketing great. Add this put this in a certain spot, all BS and marketing. Was hitting with a POG, and a Y22 today, then a Dual Core 97G. All hit good different weights and balance points but all played well. The only real change has been less weight, which could be good or bad, and strings. Mainly the poly craze. Mo betta spin, means fasta fasta rips means mo betta tennis