Racket-holics Anonymous

"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol new tennis rackets - that our lives had become unmanageable." 
(adapted from "The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous")

Not only am I a struggling racket-holic, my addictions include:
- strings-holic,
- tension-holic,
- hybrid-holic.

With greater affluence, many are actively trying new frames and strings. To some, this gives as much pleasure as playing the game itself. 

What puzzled me was the furious pace at which these players change equipment and setups. On local online forums, it is commonplace to see ads like:

"Latest model racket for sale, used for only one session, condition 9.9/10 totally unscratched, plastic wrapper still on handle, selling cos unsuitable for my play"

Despite seriously meddling with my "new" ProKennex Black Ace 98 for almost two years, I am still discovering new things about the racket!

Here's just a portion of what has been attempted in the Black Ace 98 from June 2013 to June 2014. My racket discovery process, so to speak:

Low Tension with Syn Gut @ 35/34 Boxed

Black Ace 98 Overhauled

Low Tension with Syn Gut @ 28 lbs

Skipping Crosses for 16x10

Grass Trimmer Line

0.90mm Fishing Line/Syn Gut Hybrid

Fishing Line/Poly Hybrid

Fishing Line/Poly/Multifilament Tri-brid

1.0mm Fishing Line/Syn Gut Hybrid

Another Fishing Line/Poly Hybrid

Monitoring Racket Distortion Levels After Stringing

0.6mm Dyneema Fishing Line/Syn Gut Hybrid

Kevlar/Syn Gut Hybrid

Re-stringing Mains Only

A few whom I help to re-string has sent in different acquisitions each time. Offhand, some would have changed rackets about seven to eight times in less than a year.

How did these chaps come to their realizations so fast?

Whenever I handle a new stick, the first thing I look out for are the weights - swing weight, total weight and weight distribution.

These weights determine our timings, power, spin and control. They carry huge implications on every aspect of our games, primarily, serve, return of serve, ground strokes and net play. And each aspect takes a lot of time to be tested thoroughly.

Some frames are better for serve and volley, while others excel in spin. Some frames are extremely string or tension sensitive, while others perform the same strung with syn gut or poly.

After the preferred frame has been selected, the next major component would be strings and tension. Perhaps a little lead tape somewhere too.

Ultimately, all these testings mean money need to be spent. Purchasing the racket merely started the process. 

If you are not prepared - physically, financially, mentally and emotionally, to go through the adjustment period, changing only one variable each time, and getting an astute partner to spot the differences in your play, then it's just a senseless waste of time and money.

And the cycle keeps repeating...

Personally, whenever I test a new racket, I always start with a familiar strings setup at middle of the recommended tension. Over the next few sessions, I would explore as wide a variety of strokes as possible. 

Only after I've dialed in about 70-80% of the weight and power adjustments, would I then start playing with strings. It takes at least a few weeks to decide whether it's a keeper, or to revert back to old faithful, or to search for another.

Before you spend your hard-earned money to purchase a new stick, budget a little more for lead tape, court bookings and balls to test it out. Plus a few stringjobs.