Tennis Pickleball

Is It Time to Replace Your Tennis Racquet?

By: Tracy Rolling

Tennis is an awesome sport that can be played over a lifetime. However, that doesn’t mean your tennis equipment will last that long. Tennis racquets need to be replaced periodically for a variety of reasons. Some wear out. Some age out. And others just plain run out of luck. Regardless of how much you love your current racquet, it could be time to replace it. Here are some indications that it’s time for a new racquet.

YOU'RE READY FOR A PERFORMANCE UPGRADE

You're ready for a performance upgrade

It’s no secret that the game has evolved over the years. But guess what? So has the equipment. Tennis racquet manufacturers such as Wilson, Babolat, Dunlop, Head, Tecnifibre, and Yonex have kept up with player demands by introducing new, more aerodynamic racquets. Many have updated their most popular racquet families, like the Babolat Pure Drive Gen11. As a court staple, this racquet is starting to compete with other brands like Diadem, Solinco, and Volkl, who are ambitious about getting into the player's hands. Performance upgrades can include tweaking the head size, string pattern, weight, balance point, and construction materials in addition to adding specialized technology, all of which can enhance your ability to play even better tennis!

YOUR RACQUET LOOKS OR FEELS WORN OUT

When you start to see signs of wear and tear, it could be time to invest in a new racquet. Fatigue can happen over time or as a result of a sudden incident. Racquets age more quickly when they’re exposed to extreme temperatures. Heat, moisture, and stringing at the wrong tension are primary culprits. But cracked frames, whether from slamming your racquet or accidentally dropping it, can cause the equipment to no longer perform as intended. Unfortunately, the damage is not always visible, and that can be dangerous too. When the mechanical components of a racquet like the frame, head, shaft, or string beds degrade, it can result in misshits, and even cause injuries.

YOUR BODY IS TELLING YOU SOMETHING

You're body is telling you something

Changing out your tennis racquet isn’t always about upgrading. Sometimes it’s responding to your body’s needs. This might include recovering from a surgery, having a growth spurt, experiencing a change in your physical endurance, or overcoming common tennis-related injuries such as a forearm strain, neck and back pain, tendinitis, rotator cuff issues, or tennis elbow. While time and rest will heal most minor setbacks, swapping out your racquet can be a practical solution.

YOUR GAME HAS CHANGED

A lot of players don’t realize how much their game has changed since they started playing. If your racquet is more than five years old, or you’re having longer rallies but not converting the point, you have to ask yourself if it’s your racquet, the strings, or your technique. Making minor tweaks to your racquet can help you hit a bigger ball and make fewer unforced errors. If your racquet has become less reliable and you find yourself defending more points, versus building them, you will get more power, spin or control from a modernized racquet.

YOU’VE LEVELED UP

Success is a great rationale for reassessing your tennis racquet needs. If you’ve moved up a level, let me be the first to congratulate you. That’s no easy feat and you have much to celebrate. Now, it’s time to continue the momentum by making sure your racquet compliments your newly acquired skill level. In this case, the best solution in this case is the Midwest Racquet Sports no-hassle demo program. Similar to checking out a library book, you can playtest popular racquets to see if they have the power, spin, or control you’re looking for. Keep notes on what you like and dislike from each racquet until you hone in on the perfect one.

YOU FOUND A GREAT DEAL

Tennis racquet specials are a fantastic reason to purchase a new racquet. In addition to seasonal sales, and discounts on multi-pack purchases, manufacturers will offer periodic mark downs on last year’s models. These savings are passed onto the players and offer athletes the opportunity to buy new racquets for a fraction of the original sale price. You can also expand your collection or purchase an entirely new set of sticks, plus, you can take advantage of some awesome string specials too.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Your racquet is the most important tool in your tennis bag. If it’s holding you back, showing wear, or no longer fits your body or your game, it’s probably time for an upgrade.

So listen to your equipment—and to yourself. Chances are, your next racquet will bring more power, comfort, and fun to every match. Browse our Full Racquet Collection and find your perfect fit today.