How do you test a new racquet for yourself?

***cobalt*** · 09-30-2010, 11:48 AM

I have been giving this some thought recently, and am wondering how most of you go about testing a new racquet for your own use. What is the check-list that you prepare (mentally at least) for this purpose? Here is what I could think of:

1. Weight
2. Balance Point
3. Choice of string
4. Tension range of string.
5. Stiffness/flexibility of racquet, which needs to be considered along with choice of string.
6. Swing speed

Now, once you have made your choice of the physical specs etc, what conditions do you choose to actually test under? I think a lot of people test the racquet when they are fresh on court and in peak condition physically, but somehow I feel this is not the best thing to do. If you are going to use the racquet for more than 2 games in a session, then it makes sense to bring your physical condition to what it would be around the end of your session, to see if you are still comfortable with the racquet when your body has slowed down a bit, energy is lower, reflexes are slower.

So I think we should test a racquet only after we have been actively on court for at least 90 minutes.

I am curious to know what you all think.

**surajaya** · 09-30-2010, 07:50 PM

7. Frame stability

**visor** · 09-30-2010, 08:01 PM

I don't think you have to be on court for that long before testing a new racket.

If you have a regular racket that you're familiar with, then even playing with a new racket in the first game, you will immediately discern the difference in power, speed, maneuverability, etc.

**arfandy** · 09-30-2010, 11:52 PM

can i ask, how would you choose a new unstrung racket that suit your preference other than only reading the racket specs & positive suggestion?

If the racket has been purchased and strung, then the first 5-min on court should be enough to determine whether the racket&string combination suits you or not. Or else, you'll just have to get used to the racket, not the other way round.

**gavinloh** · 10-01-2010, 12:10 AM

There is no way to tell unless you tested it in the court with real play. One man's meat is another man's poison. Not neccesary the popular racquet would be suitable for you.

Example, I bought and tested the popular 8DX and it not really suit me as compare with NS9900. Thinking to get a 2nd unit of NS9900.

**Yoppy** · 10-01-2010, 02:09 AM

Actually it can also be done in a reverse or a blind test way. Sometimes i test a racket without knowing the specs whatsoever in the first place. Only afterward i can feel and roughly guess the specs, this is mainly to the weight/stiffness/BP. Its not too hard at all once get use to it.

As for the string, unfortunately im very2 picky with the tension and string size. Any string smaller than 0.67 or bigger than 0.7 or tension higher/lower that 28to26lbs i will hate it straight away. Again, once get used to it it is very easy to detect if this is not your range.

The rest of attributes such as swing speed/solidness/material/design/size/paint work/etc are very interesting because this is where the surprising elements come to play. You will find that some you will like and some you dont. I found that YY is lately quite boring (with the exception of the 3 players series) compare to LN Carlton Wilson (I like some of their design, really cool), Flypower (woven tech & super aerodynamic frame), Apacs (6U superlight racket). All these so called innovations/modifications will alter the feel of the racket when you test them.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by visor

I don't think you have to be on court for that long before testing a new racket.

If you have a regular racket that you're familiar with, then even playing with a new racket in the first game, you will immediately discern the difference in power, speed, maneuverability, etc.

I am not so sure it works for many of us, though. Your method would work fine for someone whose fitness levels can be maintained unchanged for over 2 hours on court, so we are talking about professional or at least advanced and maybe the younger, intermediate players. I could start out fresh and fit and try out a realy stiff and heavy racquet and love its explosive power in singles; an hour later it will feel like a stick of lead!

Ideally I would like to be able to play with a racquet that is more "forgiving" of my physical condition and assists me, rather than becomes a liability as the sessions progress.

I am sure I am not alone on the BC forum to have fitness issues that include fatigue, slowing down and stiffness after more than an hour on court.

Recently, I bought a racquet and fell in love with it after playing a few games over a couple of sessions. Then I had an extended session that left me a bit fatigued, and it felt like the strings had lost their tension, the racquet would not swing correctly, my clears turned into frustrating mush, and my smashes had the opponents doubling up with laughter.

Now, I suppose ANY racquet would feel like a piece of wood at that stage. But my point was to try and find a middle stage in testing where the racquet's characteristics would assist my deficiencies, rather than magnify them.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Yoppy

(snip)

As for the string, unfortunately im very2 picky with the tension and string size. Any string smaller than 0.67 or bigger than 0.7 or tension higher/lower that 28to26lbs i will hate it straight away. Again, once get used to it it is very easy to detect if this is not your range.
(snip)

Yoppy, I can see the point of using a certain type and diameter of string. But don't you think that tension is also dependant on the other characteristics of the racquet, e.g. frame stiffness, heaviness, shaft stiffness etc?

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by gavinloh

There is no way to tell unless you tested it in the court with real play. One man's meat is another man's poison. Not neccesary the popular racquet would be suitable for you.

Example, I bought and tested the popular 8DX and it not really suit me as compare with NS9900. Thinking to get a 2nd unit of NS9900.

Well, when I proposed "testing" I did mean to do it for an extended session like game-play or at least an extended practise session. The question was, under what physical conditions would it make most sense to do the test? Sorry if I wasn't clear earlier on...

**visor** · 10-01-2010, 11:18 AM

I see: you're concerned about how the racket feels when you're tired and at the end of the session.

IMO, by that time the legs are more tired than the arms.

So, it is a problem with footwork more so than with a racket being too stiff or too bead heavy.

Usually by that time, I call it quits to avoid any bad habits or injuries.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 05:52 PM

Not so much a problem with footwork as the loss of energy overall. And it is not necessarily at the absolute end of the session. When coordination starts going a bit off, the racquet comes down at the wrong angle and speed, and everything goes to hell. At that stage, if I had a racquet that would "extend my court life" by one more game and which I could still use with greater consistency than others, would it be safe to say that that would be a good choice? Would it be a better choice than the racquet I started the day with? Or should I have 2 different racquets, my "robust condition" racquet and my "slipping away" racquet?

Oh and BTW, if my legs dont move, I dont lift my arms. Period.

**visor** · 10-01-2010, 05:59 PM

^^^
I've noticed this effect too as the evening wears on.

That's why I have 2 T2's: one 86g 288mm with ZM67@23lb for when I'm robust, vs another 84g 284mm with ZM67@21lb for when I'm weak.

***kwun*** · 10-01-2010, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by surajaya

7. Frame stability

8. feel - to me one of the more important one.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 09:25 PM

Next project for Dan: a racquet with a sliding BP mechanism in the shaft.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by kwun

8. feel - to me one of the more important one.

could you elaborate for us, Kwun?

**jymbalaya** · 10-01-2010, 09:40 PM

its how the racket feels when you hit with it. Its hard to explain, but most rackets have a distinct feeling when you hit, even though they may play similarly. if you don't like how a racket feels when you hit, it will be hard to play with it.

***cobalt*** · 10-01-2010, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by jymbalaya

its how the racket feels when you hit with it. Its hard to explain, but most rackets have a distinct feeling when you hit, even though they may play similarly. if you don't like how a racket feels when you hit, it will be hard to play with it.

But that's exactly the thing! It may feel 10/10 when you start your session, but half-way through or say an hour later when your physical condition is not the same as earlier, it may feel 7/10 while another racquet that earlier felt 7/10 may now feel 8/10.

Read Visor's post....

I've noticed this effect too as the evening wears on.

That's why I have 2 T2's: one 86g 288mm with ZM67@23lb for when I'm robust, vs another 84g 284mm with ZM67@21lb for when I'm weak.