How to Maintain Your Tennis Racquet

Racquets are designed to be exceptionally durable, withstanding repeated impact for a long time. Most racquets last between two to three years with regular use and even longer with proper care, but eventually they break down, crack, and lose their performance. To keep racquets in tip-top condition for longer, providing regular maintenance is necessary. This guide will show you how to look for signs of wear and damage; how to clean your racquet; and how to know when you must repair or replace your racquet.

Checking & Inspection

Maintaining your racquet is a great deal of time and hard work. Ultimately, however, it boils down to two things: Keeping it clean and dry and protecting from impact and extreme conditions. These are the parts of the racquet that are in constant danger of wearing down:

• Strings
• Grommets
• Bumper 
• Grip
• Frame

While advice on racquet maintenance and care is broadly similar across most makes and models, it is important to use racquet manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model; materials, replaceable parts, and stringing requirements differ between models and generations, which makes getting compatible parts for your racquet important.

First, you should check your racquet before, during, and after play for any signs of abrasion, wear and tear, and overall damage. Before you play, check if the frame, strings, grommets, bumper, grip, and butt cap are sound. If during play your racquet gets an especially hard impact, stop and see if there are any cracks, distortions, soft areas, or exposed fibers. If there are, then get a professional assessment.

Frame

The frame serves to protect the racquet head and generally lasts two to three years. The frame can develop problems, such as abrasion, exposed graphite, or other frame material, a crushed, raised, or even separated area, and a clicking or creaking sound. There may also be a line that extends beneath the paint or paint chip that looks superficial but may be indicative of something graver. These may all be signs your frame is falling apart.

To check if your racquet is still in good working order, inspect the full hoop, throat, shafts, and handle junction. Compare both sides for symmetry and pay close attention to impacts, particularly hard ones.

You should also take care not to strike the racquet against another racquet, the court, net post, or fence. Strong impact that reduces a frame’s durability even if it doesn’t immediately break.

Strings

A racquet’s strings can begin to lose tension even when the racquet is not being played, which affects your power and control. Some major factors involved in string change include:

• Use
• Moisture
• Heat
• Sunlight 
• Friction

The string material and the original installations are also factors of string change. Most synthetic strings are less moisture-sensitive than natural gut strings and they retain their tension well even after intense play. Gut strings need to be kept dry to ensure optimal performance. Polyester is highly durable, stiff, and excellent at generating spin, but it maintains its elasticity far less than synthetic strings. Nylon strings lose elasticity but can still perform well for a while before they lose all strength.

To identify major problems before they arise, keep an eye out for fraying, especially in natural gut or filament strings, and whether the strings are badly displaced. If you notice the same area breaking before its time, or that your racquet no longer delivers the level of control, response, or comfort it once did, those are all signs that something is wrong.

Getting your lines professionally re-tensioned or replaced is recommended. Find more information about restringing and racquet care here. You can also check out our strings collection here.

Grommets & Bumper Guard

You should also take care to see whether there are any cuts, kinks, or damaged areas near the grommet. The grommets are bits of plastic that protect the strings where they pass through the frame. A worn grommet can increase localized string wear. The bumper guard is designed to protect the upper hoop; if it’s cracked or worn through, it no longer provides that same abrasive barrier.

It is necessary, therefore, to inspect the grommets for flaring, collapses, splits, missing pieces, and sharp edges. If the grommets or bumper guard need replacement, then it’s best to get the parts specific to the exact model or generation. A similar-looking part into the frame will not do and may even compromise the structural integrity of racquet. We have a wide inventory of grommets to choose from if they ever need replacing.

Grip & Handle

The base grip of a racquet can get hardened or torn over time. The overgrip absorbs sweat, gradually becoming dirty and losing traction and comfort. There is also a significant loss in cushioning.

If you find your grip becoming smooth, compressed, and less tacky, it may be time to replace it. It is recommended that you change your grips every few months if you play in hot weather conditions or on hard courts.

To rewrap your racket, remove the old grip first. Clean the handle with soap and water and allow it to dry fully; make sure the liquid hasn’t soaked into the handle. Apply a fresh grip by wrapping from the bottom of the handle. Learn more on how to install a tennis overgrip, or shop for our collection of replacement grips and overgrips.

Cleaning

After playing, gently wipe down the racquet, the frame, and the string bed, and remove dirt, debris, and moisture accumulated with a soft dry cloth. For stubborn stains, damp the cloth in the warm soapy water. Make sure you clean all areas, including the frame, strings, and grip. Dry the racquet and keep wet clothing away from it.

If you play on a clay court, removing clay dust and grit from your racquet is recommended. Do so gently; otherwise, you risk grinding it into the paint. A soft brush can help around the grommets and the bumper, so long as it does not force debris into the frame or pull at the strings.

After that, let the racquet dry in a ventilated indoor area. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources such as a heater or hair dryer. Then simply close it with a cover.

Storage

Getting a racquet cover or a specialized bag or tote for your racquet is a good idea. Many bags and totes for racquets have climate-control technology that protects racquets from extreme heat and cold.

If you are traveling, using a compartment for your racquet would go a long way toward keeping it intact. Keep heavy items that might press against the hoop away from the racquet and make sure all bottles are either way from the racquet or tightly sealed, as liquid can leak and wreak havoc on your grips and strings.

Be wary of putting the racquet in the car boot or trunk; even in a bag, which reduces the number of knocks, the jostling can wear on your racquet. Once you are at your destination, remove the racquet immediately; do not leave it in your vehicle exposed to heat, cold, or rapid temperature changes.

FAQs

Keep Your Racquet in Excellent Shape

Tennis racquets are the most essential pieces of equipment as a player. By providing regular maintenance and cleaning, you would ensure the longevity and performance of your racquet, as well as saving you money in the long run.