Tennis rackets with fragile wooden frames, strings made from animal guts and grips made out of real string, wrapped around the handle. Tennis has changed dramatically since its early days, but maintaining your racket correctly can prolong its optimal performance, increase your chances of a consistent strike on the ball and save you money.
Racket Bag
Whether you're a beginner or been playing tennis for years, selecting the correct equipment to assist in the maintenance of your racket is crucial. Buying a racket, without an adequate bag to store it in, reduces the life of the racket immediately. The cost of the bag should reflect the amount you plan to play. Don't overspend on a tennis bag if you only plan to play once or twice a month. If you decide to play regularly, investing in a quality storage bag, that covers the whole racket from the top of the frame, right down to the end of the grip, will save you money in the long term.
Storage
All tennis rackets, regardless of the cost or quality, must be kept out of extreme temperatures. Ideally the racket should be stored, in the carry bag, in your house. The garage can be used, but only when it has the correct insulation to keep the temperatures similar to that of the household. Never leave rackets in the trunk of the car; this can cause the racket to freeze, which increases the chance of splits and cracks appearing in the frame.
Strings
Strings made from animal guts were traditionally the norm; now only the best rackets used by the professionals use this method. Cost and durability dictate that synthetic materials are now the industry standard. Tennis during the summer months, playing in extreme heat, can cause a dramatic decrease in the quality and tension of the racket strings. The ultra violet rays of the sun can damage your strings. So, unless the racket is in use, it will extend the life of the racket, and the strings, if you keep it in its case or in the shade. The racket needs to be restrung every year, relative to the amount of times you play a week. If you play twice a week, get your racket restrung twice a year. This will have a positive impact on your game, and improve the consistency of strike on the ball.
Grip
The grip is your only contact with the racket, if you have got perfect strings and the best frame to suit your power to weight ratio; the racket is still useless if the grip is worn down and the racket slips in your palm when you hit a powerful forehand or fast first serve. A decent rule is to ask every time you get the racket restrung. Replacing the grip is cheap, and only a two minute job. As you become more experienced, it is also a job you can do yourself.
Replacing Racket
If you follow all the instructions above, a tennis racket can last for 10 years. The key is consistent maintenance. The only concern you will have is the technological advances. Rackets become lighter, with a bigger sweet spot and all at a cheaper cost than they were the year before. Nevertheless, if you have had your racket for nearly five years, and hit thousands of balls with it, it will feel like an extension of your arm; making it difficult and time consuming to adapt to a new one.
Member Comments