So, I bought a Woven-7 a while ago, and it seems perfectly fine. It plays well, and feels completely authentic. I obtained it from a legitimate source, and was ensured that it was 100% SOTX. The thing I didn't notice was the grommets, and how akward they seem to look. My racket is strung 25x25lbs with BG-65, but these "broken" grommets don't seem to affect it. I was wondering if this condition applied to any of you BC members, and how it's affected the racket. Oh, and does anyone have an idea regarding how this will affect my future racket and stringing, and if it's reversible? Here's a picture to describe what I'm talking about: (that is not a picture of my racket + grommets, but it's almost 100% similar - the second red circle is the best example) Thanks in advance!
Hmmm, all my 3 Sotx racquets (D900, W16, W13) do not have such grommets on them. Instead, its a flat round grommet which allows a 2 strings to be inserted without touching the sides of the grommet. Perhaps the seller changed the grommets before you bought them? To me, grommets are just grommets, it will not affect your play. But broken grommets will cut into your string with its damaged edge hence reducing the durability of your strings.
all of my sotx grommets (and all we stock) are like this. The Sotx factory cuts them short and "folds" it round and open (easy stringing I must say) chances are they tore when restringing and he replaced them...though I must hoestly say the grommets last me pretty long..
So what you're saying is that the condition shown in my first picture is the condition for all SOTX rackets? I can't really see the grommets in your picture that clearly so I'm still sort of confused. Thanks for everyone's help!
well, it ís a used racket, but all grommets look like that. The piece of the grommet that's on the inside of the frame is heated and folded backwards. You can't really see them from a distance, I find it very neat looking... I think you should mail the seller, and take a picture... EDIT: how's this (pic below)? different racket, same grommets
Thanks for all the replies jerby, you've been quite helpful. Do you mind zooming in on the grommets of the top right corner? That would be much better, thanks again.
Yep, all the SOTX rackets I've purchased had folded and rounded gromments where it's shared. I've never seen those grommets in your image, they were either replaced or the racket is fake.
Disagree that all grommets are the same. A good grommet like the flared rounded one on the SOTX rackets won't damage your string and won't break in the long run.
Best to just post a picture of your Woven 7 and then we can make a better judgement whether or not your racket is real.
btw how can I know whether a Sotx is real? (eg: For yonex, I can look at the serial things... Does SOTX have the so like?)
Chances of fake SOTX racket are low compare to yonex. And i believe there's a thread on the fake SOTX. Maybe you have search ard for abit.
For my Woven-8, it has one of the split grommets shown in your picture. As far I as I can guess it was replaced during a stringing. The rest of them are the usual folded ones.
Yupp dink's is the REAL one. My yonex has the rounded ones too. Those grommets of yours doesn't look right it looks like it's been cut out of tubes. Or it might be an older version of the woven 7.
Seems like the gromments are replaced by the stringer. With limited availability of tools and proper gromments, many stringer tend to just use the "generic" gromments to replace the splitted/broke ones. Of course, they are not as good/neat as the flat/round ones, but they are definitelly a better choice than the already broken ones, if being installed and modified (i.e. cut to proper length) correctly.
Yeah I don't have a digital camera right this minute, but I'll have a picture in a few days. Thanks for everyone's reply... my grommets look quite different compared to Dink's... Oh by the way, do you have a picture of the Woven-7, after stringing? I was wondering if my 25x25lbs tension would affect the grommets.