Caring for Your Racquetball Racquet

Proper racquet maintenance will help to prolong the life of your racquet and strings. Here are a few simple tips and techniques that will make caring for your racquet a snap.

Racquet Storage:

• Keep your racquet covered and clean.  Dirt can accumulate in string holes or grommets and abrade string during play.
• Keep your racquet cool (but not freezing!) or at room temperature.
• Keep your racquet out of heat any time you’re not on the court.
• The car or car trunk is one of the worst places to store your racquet.  So is a garage or attic that sees extreme temperatures and frequent changes in temperature. Even short-term exposure can cause strings to “relax” or lose tension.   One afternoon in a hot trunk is all it takes to ruin a perfectly good string job.  Heat can also warp or weaken grommets and even damage your frame if extreme enough.

Racquet String Maintenance:

When racquetball strings are worn they stretch further but rebound more slowly and with less force, resulting in less power to the shot. In top tournament play, strings rarely last longer than a match.

How often to have your racquet restrung depends on the player, the string, and the type of play. We recommend that you restring your racquet as many times in a year as you play a week – minimum once a year.

For example, if you play twice a week, have your racquet strung twice a year (every 6 months), three times a week, 3 times a year (every 4 months) and so on.

Letting a racquets strings go too long without stringing means that you’re working much harder than you need to at providing both power and control.

For more information on Racquet Stringing, call us at 1-800-724-9439, or click here if you’d like to send us your racquet.

Bumper Guard Maintenance:

Most every racquet on the market has a plastic bumper guard on the racquet’s head (it typically runs from around 10 o’clock in the frame to 2’o’clock on the opposite side).  This bumper is the barrier between your frame (usually graphite) and its environment.  This is a replaceable part which comes in a kit called a Bumper / Grommet kit.  Once it becomes worn or cracked, it should be replaced to avoid wearing a hole through the racquet frame and to protect the strings from making contact directly with the walls and floor during play which can result in premature string breakage.  Most professional racquet service providers will have these parts in stock.  Note: This is a service that must be performed during a re-stringing, as it requires the strings to be cut out for the bumper to be installed.

• Tip:  When you purchase a new racquet, plan ahead and order an extra Bumper & Grommet Set at the same time.  This way, you’ll have it to take with you to your Racquet Service Provider when you need it.
• Tip:  To order a replacement Bumper/Grommet set, you’ll need to know the exact Make and Model of your racquet.  This information can typically be found printed somewhere on the racquet frame.
• Tip:  For those of you who wear your bumpers down quickly, try using Gamma Guard bumper protection tape to prolong the life of your bumper.

Grip Maintenance:

Keep your racquetball grip well maintained to reduce slippage.  If it’s worn, get it replaced.  It always amazes us how worn some of the grips are on racquets that come in for service. A re-grip is one of the easiest and least expensive things that you can have done to your racquet that will positively impact its performance.

• Tip:  If you use an Ektelon Vision Grip (a great, clear gel feeling rubber grip!)…try washing it with warm water and soap now and then to refresh the tackiness.

Tether Check:

Take a look at your tether now and then to make sure that the knot is secure. Tethers take a beating over time so if it’s looking ratty or thin in any area, have it replaced.

TAKE ME TO E-Force Bumper / Grommet Sets
TAKE ME TO Ektelon Bumper / Grommet Sets
TAKE ME TO Head Bumper / Grommet Sets
TAKE ME TO Wilson Bumper / Grommet Sets
TAKE ME TO Gearbox Bumper / Grommet Sets