November - December 2002 Vol. 13, No. 6 | Contents
Is it time for a new Racquet? by Bill Schultz	The club I play at has 12 courts and one of the best racquetball programs in the country. Even in these modern facilities, I’m surprised at how many players are still using outdated racquets. And these aren’t just the occasional players. Many are regulars who play two or three times a week and have been playing for years. In many cases the racquets aren’t just four or five years old, but are 10, 15 and even 20 years old. At least I haven’t seen a wooden racquet for a while, except for the one in my collection.  Players using older racquets are making a substantial investment in club membership and in the time they take each week to play. If you are one of them, my advice is to invest a few more dollars and upgrade to a new racquet at least every few years to help maximize your time on the court. Can a person still have fun and get a good workout with the old racquet? Yes … but wouldn’t it be even more fun getting to more balls, and making better shots once you get there? Over the past few years some very significant changes have taken place in racquet construction that can very easily improve your game. Racquets have evolved to 22 inches, which will immediately improve your ability to reach shots. Retire that shorter racquet, and all of a sudden you’ll seem faster as you reach shots you couldn’t get to before. Racquets have also become wider, adding even more square inches of hitting area. This larger hitting area and added stability will give you better results when you hit off-center shots.  New materials like high-tech carbon, graphite and even a little titanium have significantly improved racquet durability, power and control, all in a lighter package. Years ago, to get a racquet with better power you sacrificed feel, which hurt the control aspects of your game. Many of those old power racquets felt like boards, but the control racquets lacked some power. Most of today’s racquets offer great power as well as superb control — a great combination. New materials and engineering advances have produced racquets with little or no vibration, which makes these newer racquets much easier on your arm. If you are using an older racquet, you likely have one with a handle size that is bigger than you should be using. Almost all of today’s racquets come in only two handle sizes: 3 5/8” or 3 15/16”. The majority of players, both men and women, play with the 3 5/8” size, which seems to be more comfortable and is easier to maneuver when changing from the forehand to the backhand grip.  High-tech materials have trimmed the weight of racquets from most companies to the 150 to 200 gram range. It wasn’t too long ago that the lightest racquets were 190 grams. The lightest racquets may be perfect for some players, but most players are going to be better off in the 170 to 190 gram range. For example, a player with great wrist snap in his or her stroke, which helps generate more power, might find a 170-gram racquet perfect. However, a player with less wrist snap may need a 190-gram racquet to generate the power they need, counting on an assist from the extra racquet weight. Also, going too light can add extra stress on the arm due to the added effort to generate the same speed you can generate with slightly heavier racquet. I believe there’s a point for most players where the weight-to-power ratio is perfect. For me it’s playing with a racquet around 170 grams. By going any lighter I lose power, especially on my serve.  Many of us who play a great deal will most likely look to the high-end racquets when making a change. These are the racquets ranging from $175 to $200 or more. However, one thing that’s gone hand-in-hand with the new high-tech materials and engineering innovations are many very nice racquets at the mid-level and lower price ranges. Most of today’s mid-range and lower priced racquets play better than older high-end racquets. These racquets, depending on the company, feature the 22” length, long-string technologies, lightweight construction, and often have many of the same bells and whistles as the higher priced frames. These mid-range and lower priced racquets may be perfect for the budget-conscious or occasional player who still wants a racquet that can help improve their game. No matter what the sport, it has always bothered me when someone gets poor advice and doesn’t buy the best equipment for their needs. This is why I take it very seriously when I’m asked for advice on racquets. If you’re in the market for a new racquet I strongly suggest that you try a variety of demos that are available at your club or local sporting goods store. Playing with the racquets you’re interested in is the best way to tell what feels right for you. Most clubs have a sponsored player or two (in many cases doing lessons and clinics) who should be able to evaluate your game and give you some suggestions based on your style of play. If your club doesn’t have demos, ask to try out the sponsored player’s racquets, which I’m sure they’d be happy to do. I hope this information will help you make a wise choice when you purchase your next racquet. If you have any questions, please email me at bschultz@milwpc.com.
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