In a game of tennis, the only time you want to hear the word ‘love’ is when the game begins or refers to your opponent’s score. In any other tennis context, this normally positive word in the English language means you need to find your motor skills quickly and knock it off with the double faults.
It may sound a little odd to use the word when describing the care you should give a tennis racquet, but it’s not too far from the truth. Your racquet can be among the biggest costs, that you will incur as a tennis enthusiast and can easily be damaged. That is also true even if you’re using a beginners racquet.
So without further ado, here are a handful of rules you need to follow to ensure it lasts a long time and serves you well while you try to serve in bounds.
1. Don’t Expose Your Racquet to Excessive Heat
The inside of an enclosed car or an asphalt surface on a hot summer day are both hot enough to do plenty of damage to graphite and composite racquet bodies, which can distort at relatively low temperatures. Many companies provide racquet bags with heat-resistant linings that hold multiple racquets and protect them from these conditions. If you don’t have such a bag, then at least take the racquet to your desk or office or someplace
where it won’t be exposed to so much heat.
2. Thou Shalt Not Expose Thy Racquet to Excessive Moisture
Moisture damage, like heat damage, is another common way tennis racquets get trashed. Don’t put your racquet into a locker or gym bag full of sweaty clothes. Keep them away from drink bottles or other water containers. If you use natural gut strings you also have to avoid humidity and rain. The best way to avoid moisture damage is also the best way to avoid heat damage: with a protective racquet bag. Just as many bags have heat-resistant linings, many also have linings to protect racquets from moisture.
3. Don’t Do Stupid Things With Your Racquet
A racquet is pretty good for hitting tennis balls, but not much else. Using it as a pry bar, hammer or to carry heavy objects is not a good idea. You should also avoid storing it at the bottom of a stack of heavy items or in a car trunk full of loose heavy items like the common household or automotive tools.
4. Stay Within the Manufacturer’s Specified String Tension Range
Racquet manufacturers, which have the benefit of laboratories, test facilities and numerous scientists and in-house experts are pretty good at determining what range of tension a racquet should be strung at. Most tennis players do not have the benefit of such facilities or experts. If you do not string your racquet within the proper tension range, then at the very best, it will perform badly and at the very worst, you will damage it. Although you kept the receipt, your warranty-voiding shenanigans means you are on your own getting a replacement as your request for a refund or exchange will fall on deaf ears.
5. Replace The Grip When It Becomes Worn
One of the least expensive and quickest repairs you can make is to replace the grip when it wears down. The last thing you need is to have your racquet slide around in your hand and cause blisters or your arm absorb the brunt of vibration from hitting the ball because there’s no cushion left on the grip.
Taking care of your racquet is not very difficult to do. A little effort and an average amount of intelligence will go a long way in extending the life of your tennis racquet.
Don’t expose the racquet to excessive heat and moisture?
You live in the tropics. Isn’t that unavoidable?
Here in Melbourne, I sometimes use the word ‘love’ in a non-tennis way. But only if I fancy my opponent.
Great tips! I don’t play tennis but if our boys ever get into it I’ll definitely know to keep it away from heat and moisture. Thank you!
I used to play tennis in high school and I wasn’t even sure there was a right way to take care of your raquet, guess that shows why I wasn’t the best player, haha!
xo
Sami
Wow so much care goes into taking care of the tennis racquet. I only know about not exposing it to excessive heat is because a friend did so and lets just say her expensive racquet needed to be replaced asap.
I’m not a sport player AT ALL, but I genuinely had no idea that warmth and moisture could affect a tennis racket so much – although now it seems so obvious!
I don’t play tennis often, but this is a great way to allow me to keep my racquet longer. I’ve always just replaced it.
I find my racket strings stuck to one another, I mean like glued up and not moving at all. Is it normal, or is it due to exposure to hot weather or moisture. Should the string be movable, to ensure it is perfect to hit efficiently?
We haven’t played tennis in forever. These are great tips for the more-involved player, or for students in high school that participate on a team. I’m sure coaches would appreciate these tips and teach their players.
This is great information for any tennis player. I don’t play, so I had no idea there were things you had to do to keep your racquet in good shape. I thought it just was there all the time. Shows what I knew. LOL
I always wanted to play recreational tennis, took some lessons and then let my racket get dusty. I am now inspired to take it back out and store it properly.
I used to play lots of tennis in college and the racquet broke down several times as we played sometimes in the rain. I now know not to expose them to the water and play it when the weather is nice. Thanks for sharing these tips.
I took tennis lessons in high school but sadly, there was no follow through after graduation. Tennis gives you a total body workout! My best friend at work started taking lessons. I will share this post with him so he knows how to take care of his racket.
Wow never knew there were so many ways to care for your racquet! This is so helpful!
I love that you said don’t do anything stupid with your racquet lol. My mom used to say that to me when I was younger. I played tennis for a VERY short time in my youth but I was awful at taking care of my racquets
I enjoy playing tennis! However I dont have a tennis bag. Will checkout the tenxpro bag. 🙂
Great tips, thanks for sharing! I love playing it but need to up my equipment a bit! Maybe I’ll go and do that today!
Wow! Thanks for this! I actually have like 5 racquets and been taking care of them ever since!
The article is great, but every player considers different things for its racket, here i am using multiple rackets different courts and games. Taking care of your Racket Strings, Grip and Frame is done by various methods, So main concern should be Racket bag.
For those who play tennis, for passion or pleasure, these are certainly fundamental news. In short, it is not easy to find them around!
I think it is always important to take good care of whatever you buy! These are some great tips to follow and ensure you are not pinching out for a new and unnecessary purchase.
Thanks for sharing these tips! Taking care of your gear is very important. Some players use the same racket over and over and not using any alternatives.
These are excellent tips. It was an interesting read. I don’t play tennis, so I really didn’t know there were things you should do with your racquet other than treat it gently.
I don’t play tennis, or any sport for that matter, but I imagine this post would benefit anyone into playing tennis. Great tips!
These are all great suggestions for making tennis rackets last long and do well. I never would have thought leaving mine in the hot car would be damaging but it makes sense.
I didn’t know these ways to keep the quality of your tennis racquet. This is great info!
Not a great tennis player, had tried for few times though. But these are good tips coz one may forget about the caring part. Its better to protect it than neglect it.
I was thinking to get a new racquet may be the speed 360 or 360+ or the radical 360 or 360+ which one would u recommend
Once there are signs of wear and tear, do you recommend any chemical solution to prolong the life of the racket? Do let me know. Thanks