Povl Carstensen
Legend
If it was done on a good machine, no problem. The c/m ratio comes out pretty even anyway.
Would you ever buy a used/pre-owned racket?
- Thread starter Legend of Borg
- Start date
Povl Carstensen
Legend
I would buy one of Federer. Or...or...
LocNetMonster
Professional
It wouldn't be much different than buying frames that the owner leaves in their car during the winter months or the hottest days in August and July. How would you know if they strung it with wide differentials? Even if they did, I imagine it would take years for a racquet to change shape. Unless there is visible structural damage or something jingling inside inside the racquet when you shake it, there is no way to tell if there is something wrong with the stick or not.
i wouldnt buy a used racquet again, unless they were near mint condition. a friend of mine who likes racquets gave me a couple of 2015 PS97s, that were barely used, like new.
i just cut out the old strings and strung them up, they played pretty good.
if the frames are beat up, they loose stiffness and play differently than the new ones.
z
i just cut out the old strings and strung them up, they played pretty good.
if the frames are beat up, they loose stiffness and play differently than the new ones.
z
TennisHound
Legend
Yep TW used racquets are the best quality. You just have to know what to look for, when buying off the bay.
graycrait
Legend
It also depends on who you are buying from, not necessarily from an honesty point, but more from how hard does the seller hit a ball? I would not buy some D1 power conference male players racket they have been using for a year or 2. I would probably buy a racket from an over 50 player who is a racketholic who likes trying different rackets.
5sets
Hall of Fame
The best people to buy from are 3.0 Rec players who play once or twice a week and had purchased a real player frame. Usually the original synthetic gut strings are still intact and there is no virtually no wear on the racquet.
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tennisfan17
Professional
Yep! one of my favorite "for fun racquets" is an old blade 93 weighted up that I bought used through craigslist.
stingstang
Professional
I have no choice now, the frames I use were discontinued 5 years ago. I only buy when they are obviously hardly used though.
I've landed a few lemons which were nowhere near as good as in the photos and even a few with hairline cracks so I am super careful now.
I've landed a few lemons which were nowhere near as good as in the photos and even a few with hairline cracks so I am super careful now.
TennisHound
Legend
One of the most common places for cracks is where the bottom of the hoop meets the throat. This is especially common on Blade 98 from CV back. Also on the Wilson Pro Open and Tour (Black and Yellow) and Prince Textreme 100P.
LocNetMonster
Professional
I am a big fan of Babolat's Pure Control Team. I bought 3 off the bae used and one in person. Babs made that one right. Have yet to get a bad one. I also got a couple of Pure Storms, they looked rough, but hit really well after I modified them. It is another sturdy frame. That said, while tempted often and as much as I would like to try one out, I would not by a Pure Aero or Pure Drive used - at least not without considering it disposable. Don't know whether it is the material, the design or combination of both, but nearly everyone of them I've seen in person or have strung have hairline cracks somewhere. If I got an Aero or PD crack free used, I would not be surprised if they didn't develop fractures in a year or two.
5sets
Hall of Fame
It’s bad business to sell a cracked frame and one should certainly not be sold one without knowing. But how unplayable are they? My father’s late 80s Kneissl cracked and we were still able to hit with it. We talking excessive string tension loss or what?
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TennisHound
Legend
I’ve got several frames that are cracked right around the top and bottom of the throat, and they play fine.
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
You're not playing pickle ball with these things?!?
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1HBHfanatic
Legend
here is something to look out for, when buying rakets from fleae.bay
hopefully this does not end up there, I buy stuff from there all the time
I guess you really do need to keep an eye out on stuff like this..
hopefully this does not end up there, I buy stuff from there all the time
I guess you really do need to keep an eye out on stuff like this..
LocNetMonster
Professional
Or you could end up with something like this .... but hopefully not. I had to tell the client that I wouldn't string it after this one. I was afraid
of this totally exploding on the stringer. He played with this for another three months before breaking down and buy a couple of new sticks.
I wouldn't consider buying a used stick without seeing pics of both sides of the upper hoop area.
of this totally exploding on the stringer. He played with this for another three months before breaking down and buy a couple of new sticks.
I wouldn't consider buying a used stick without seeing pics of both sides of the upper hoop area.
TennisHound
Legend
It’s pretty funny. I saw a Pure Aero on the bay recently that said “good condition structurally sound” and had a big old crack at 10 o’clock, lolOr you could end up with something like this .... but hopefully not. I had to tell the client that I wouldn't string it after this one. I was afraid
of this totally exploding on the stringer. He played with this for another three months before breaking down and buy a couple of new sticks.
I wouldn't consider buying a used stick without seeing pics of both sides of the upper hoop area.
AtTheNet
New User
This would be my concern, as well. I am certainly not a former D1 player, but I get about 3 years out of a frame before it starts to feel kind of soggy and weak. The frame still looks good at that point, about 8/10, but the internal structure has weakened. I would not want to buy such a racquet. Nor, at that point, do I try to sell them--they get donated to a local "racquets for kids" campaign. They still have enough life to help a kid learn how to hit a ball.
TennisHound
Legend
^^^very dignified
SteveI
Legend
Anyone you are talking about on Talk Tennis...LOL
2nd Serve Ace
Hall of Fame
Anyone who exhibits that much thought in the stringing approach tends to keep the frame in pristine shape, ime.
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LocNetMonster
Professional
graycrait
Legend
Also depends what you want to buy. I have purchased easily over 100 rackets coming from the 60's through just a few years ago. When I am buying a favorite Prince from the 80's or 90s off the auction site I lean towards rackets that have original strings/stencil and cover. This tends to lend me to think the racket has been hanging somewhere for several decades. If it does or does not have original strings and cover I pour over the pics looking primarily at the grommets, hoop/throat area, headguard. There are several TT members who I happily do business with and have never been disappointed. I have purchased a couple of bummers over the years but it was a failure of due diligence on my part.
SteveI
Legend
Don't think I would like to buy a frame that was strung 70/40
TennisHound
Legend
Nothing wrong with the Pure Aeros. I had one for about 8 months or so, played the dog out of it, and sold it for around $120, no cracks or problems. Graphene XTPMP? Another story. Very brittle.
Povl Carstensen
Legend
Perhaps some rather stiff rackets you prefer "played in". I am enjoying my PS Classic 95 more and more.
