How Long Do Tennis Racquets Last?
If you take good care of your racquet, it can last you a long time. Modern graphite frames are light, rigid, and springy while also being strong. Everything wears out eventually, though. The more tennis you play, the more strain you’re putting on those microscopic graphite fibers. Every time you hit a tennis ball, the strings and those fibers absorb its energy and return as much of it as possible for your return shot. The bonds between the fibers, however, break down in the process. This damage can be subtle, and if you don’t play very often or at a high level, you may not even notice. But the result over time can be a loss of power and control.
Variables That Affect Racquet Life Expectancy
How often you play
The biggest source of wear and tear on a tennis racquet is each individual swing. The more you play and practice, the more microscopic strain you’re putting on the graphite fibers that make up a racquet’s frame. If you’re someone who only plays occasionally and you store your racquet properly, you may never need to replace your racquet. If you play a few times a week at a club or if you play competitively, you may need to replace your racquet at least every few years.
How many times the racquet has been re-strung
Restringing a racquet is the best way to make it feel like new again; tight strings are going to give your racquet more power and control. The restringing process puts a lot of strain on a frame, though. The more you restring your racquet, the sooner you’ll need to replace it.
How hard you hit the ball
In the same way that every hit adds up, more powerful hits will put more strain on your tennis racquet. If you hit with a lot of power, you’ll probably need to replace your racquets more often.
How you store your tennis racquet
It’s best to store your racquet in a protective case in an indoor, cool, dry place when it isn’t in use. Big temperature swings, excessive moisture, and pressure from other objects on the frame can all damage a racquet over time, meaning you’ll have to replace it more often. A good guideline is to always put your racquets at the top of your bag when you’re on the move, and to hang them up when you’re storing them.
How gently you handle your tennis racquet
Taking out your frustration on your racquet is a great way to retire your racquet. As will wild swings that hit the ground or the net. Keep your temper and your aim under control if you want your racquet to last.
How Many Tennis Racquets Should You Have?
If you’re a casual player who plays once a week or less, plays on one surface, and doesn’t play competitively, one tennis racquet is sufficient. If you play often enough that you need to restring your racquet once a year, it makes sense to have two racquets at your disposal. Having two racquets will allow you to share your hobby with friends and family. Sharing the game with others can be the first step towards having a regular doubles partner. If you play frequently and you regularly compete in tournaments, you may want as many as three racquets. You will want two available at a time especially if the third is being restrung. Some high-level players also like to have different racquets for different surfaces. This is overkill for an intermediate level club player.
Signs It Might Be Time For A New Tennis Racquet
Visible frame damage
Sometimes with very old racquets you can see visible cracks. This typically shouldn’t happen if you are handling the racquet properly. Over time the racquet head may become irregularly shaped or feel wiggly or loose. Both are indications it’s time to get a new racquet. Usually you’ll immediately be able to tell if there’s something wrong with a racquet.
Noticeably less power
Microscopic damage to a racquet’s graphite frame will cause the fibers to become a little looser and less springy over time, meaning that your racquet will absorb more damage from the ball without returning it effectively. This can result in a decrease in power, especially on serves and slams.
Noticeably less control
If your racquet still feels a bit squishy on precision shots even after restringing, it’s a sign that the frame has lost its rigidity, which can hurt your control and accuracy.
In general, a racquet frame should be good for around 200 sessions of tennis. So, if you play once a week, your racquet should be good for at least four years, and could last longer. If you only play a handful of times a year, you may never need to replace your racquet. If you’re a dedicated competitive player, a racquet might last you a year or less and it might make sense to keep several racquets around to make them all last longer.
