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Do you regularly replace your racket(s)?

Published: 15 May 2007 - 16:42 by msmsql

Updated: 19 Sep 2008 - 17:33

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I've been playing with two Tecnifibre Supreme 140 Texalium for the last 17 months, and have been very happy with them until now. The rackets are very sturdy and to date they barely show wear, even though I really use them a lot, both for practice and tournaments; their longevity has surpassed any previous racket of mine.

I've developed quite a "feel" for them, and lately I believe they've lost some of their original "consistency", meaning shots alternate between great, precise / powerful ones and unexpectedly "weak" ones so I wonder ... is it best to replace one's racket(s) after a while, regardless of breakage? Or put it another way, do racket frames "age" and need to be regularly replaced?

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From stevo - 17 May 2007 - 12:40   -   Updated: 17 May 2007 - 14:18

"you can get great quality stuff for the price of a night out it's a no brainer"

You must go on some pretty flash nights out sparty! The newer model rackets are generally around the $200-$250 mark, some up to $300 (aussie dollars, in sterling, 80-100 upto 150), which is a lot of money for a night out.

But I get your point, it is fun trying new rackets, seeing if the weight/balance suits, does it help with volleys/drop shots etc.

I like to keep a racket for one season of league comp then in the off season try a few new ones until I find one I prefer and stick with that for the next comp. Unless of course they break sooner, but since I have started using dunlops they have been lasting the course.

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From nickhitter - 16 May 2007 - 08:20

I usually get bored of a racket long before it breaks or begins to wear out, and as a squash enthusiast, can't justify NOT buying the newest racket that comes out! I love experimenting with strings and makes of models of rackets. They are so cheap these days and when you can get great quality stuff for the price of a night out it's a no brainer.

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From rippa rit - 16 May 2007 - 08:13

msm - what jbs says is right too.  The bats could have a few stress fractures so to speak. Glues do dry out over time - and of course you would never leave your racket in the car to cook (or to freeze) at all costs??
Keep the others as spares or for when you are experimenting to hit the drives straight along the wall, or scratching them out of the back corners.
I know the top of my rackets sort of came to a point from scraping the balls along the wall (as the concrete wall can have is pretty coarse sandpapering effect, and then the strings start to get exposed, so that creates another problem!!).

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From hamburglar - 16 May 2007 - 06:08

Racquets can lose their pop. They are after all, layers of fiberglass or carbon fiber sandwiched together. Repeated use, banging, restringing, or even just sitting with tensioned strings can slowly cause delamination of the layers. Extreme heat or cold can speed this process along, but it usually takes a few years. If it lasts that long, you've probably gotten your money out of it.

I have some extra racquets that I bought for future use, and I cut the strings out right away.

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From msmsql - 15 May 2007 - 23:18

Not a big hitter (I'd say average) nor a "touch" player, but I restring every other month since I play 3-4 times a week plus typically 1-2 weekend tournaments a month. I have been using TF 305 Green for the last couple of years with great satisfaction.

No, this has nothing to do with string tension, it's a sensation I have about the racket itself ... maybe as my game (hopefully) improves my ball approach changes and would be better served by a different racket?

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From rippa rit - 15 May 2007 - 19:34

If the frame is ok it is probably the strings that have lost their zing and sting.
If you play three times a week I would say the racket needs to be restrung three times a year, and maybe a little more frequently if you are a big hitter.

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