Hi, I have started playing again after having a break for about 13 years. My rackets where stored at our garret with no heat insulation. Is it possible that the rackets have aged somehow or the variation in temperature while storing over the years has lead to some changes in the racket? Smash is much slower for example. BR Nils
Have you put on new strings? And are your physical abilities back at the same level they were 13 years earlier?
Yes & no… Strings are new, physicals are not the same I guess, but the racket doesnt feel as explosive as it was.
Racket change due to environtment, yes. What will affect it, most likely less stiff or weaker (easier to break) but not in extreme way. Just minor change which might not be to noticable. Will it slow down? Nope. For side note, consider u take a long stop. 3 month lockdown, unable to play makes me forgot how good smashing is. My muscle memory forgot the movement, my reflex are slow. All shot feel very fast & takes few weeks for me to regain all what forgoten. But even so, it change my play from aggresive smash smash & smash into more placement play. So, for 13y stop even if you play other sport, you just maintain ur fittness, everything else need to be relearned & dont forget we all aged, dont hope to perform like ur young day.
Stored for 13 years you say? I would think it more likely it’s the strings and tension that would be most affected by humidity and temperature rather than the racket frame itself. The second most likely factor would be the fact you have not played in a long while…and would also play a part in things feeling different.
