Its
exactly a year since we last investigated the state of play in
the racket market, and with the launch of new technologies at
this years British Open (as reported in our March issue) as
well as a constant stream of new designs since then, it seems
timely to take a fresh look at the racket scene in readiness for
the start of the 97/98 season (published in the October 97 issue
of The Squash Player).
The most obvious innovation in
racket design has in fact less to do with rackets themselves than
with the way they are strung. Prince officially launched
the PowerRing and PowerRing Lite rackets featuring their PowerWEB
technology at this years British Open (as reported in our
May issue), but Peter Nicol had been using the PowerRing Lite
since the beginning of the year. We caught up with the man
himself between games and asked him what he thought of the new
design. "The control you get is the same as with the
mid-size," he told us, "and you still get the power of
the oversize racket. Its the best oversize racket Ive
ever played with." Well, he would say that, wouldnt
he? But then whos going to argue with his form so far this
year? Actions speak louder than words, as they say.
The main idea behind the PowerWEB
is that all the main strings are as nearly as possible the same
length, which means they all feel the same tension,
so that whether you hit the ball right in the sweet spot or not,
you still have the same degree of control over it. Well be
looking at the whole subject of strings and stringing in greater
detail in next months feature, but in any consideration of
rackets its hard to avoid talking about strings. After all,
its through them that you make contact with the ball.
Of course, fan
stringing is not a new idea. A stringing pattern not entirely
dissimilar to Princes latest design was introduced way back
in 1989 by a now defunct American company. (Can anyone remember
which? Answers on a postcard please.) But with the Prince name on
it and endorsement by players of the calibre of Nicol, Eyles,
Barada, Martin, Jackman and Irving, the PowerWEB is sure to have
a significant impact on the market. In fact, Prince tell us that
PowerRings are selling so well they cant get them built
fast enough to satisfy demand. Thats why you may not have
seen them yet in your local shop. But dont despair
Prince assure us theyll be generally available from next
month.
Dunlops answer to the
unequal string length problem is what they call a new
isometric (in other words almost rectangular) head shape,
as featured in their Tour Pro and Exact Pro rackets, with both
the main and cross strings of similar lengths. This development
was reported in our June/July issue and it will be interesting to
see how World No. 1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald and her young compatriot
Dan Jenson perform with this new technology in the coming season.
A similar concept is embodied in Slazengers
Quadro series, introduced last year, but their Mystique and
Silhouette series have a more conventional tear drop
head shape. Indeed, we understand from Marketing Manager Paul
Walters that Slazenger are to rationalise their range
in favour of what they prefer to call the long string
shape. Top of the current range is the Mystique Graphite 460
which, somewhat confusingly, is the only one of the four top
rackets not to be of 100% graphite construction. New for 97
is the Supercat Series, aimed at players coming into the game.
Head, for their part, seem
to be concentrating more on frame technology and have followed up
the extreme lightness of the Pyramid Power 120 with the extreme
thinness of their new Slimbody 140 and 160 (also unveiled at the
British Open) which have a frame diameter of just 16 mm.
"The new Slimbody Technology," proclaims Heads
blurb, "makes use of findings from physical research in a
wide variety of ways to play." Well, perhaps it made more
sense in the original Austrian. Anyway, Head are giving nothing
away as to how this slimness has been achieved: different layers
of carbon are pressed together, we are told, "using a new
technique" and the result is claimed to be "an even
more precise weapon on the court". Currently wielding this
new weapon is the veteran Brett Martin, so watch out!
The R&D boys at Wilson
havent exactly been putting their feet up lately either,
bringing out new ranges of both Air Hammer and Sledgehammer
rackets. The Air Hammer 160, 150 and 140 feature
rectangular geometry, which is claimed to reduce
twist by up to 60%, while the Sledgehammer 135, 145 and 155 boast
"the highest and largest sweet spot in squash"!
Meanwhile, Grays have added
the top-of-the-range Superlative ("as used by Mark
Chaloner") to their Ultimate series and have applied their
DuraBraid technology to both the best-selling Maxi (oversize) and
Midi series. MD Richard Gray reports a tremendous increase in
worldwide demand for their rackets, most of which, uniquely, are
available in three different head sizes and all of which carry a
60 day fair wear guarantee.
German-based QM launched no
fewer than eight new rackets at the Open. The £125
top-of-the-range Explosive and the slightly heavier Stingray
incorporate an extra graphite strip inside the frame to give the
racket more power and you more control. The new Top Gun and Fire
models incorporate a distinctive head shape and a new patented
string system which, it is claimed, "guarantees an optimal
sweet spot".
Not to be outdone, Unsquashable
took the covers off a round dozen new models, introducing the
lighter, streamlined XT and Stagger series. Both are
characterised by Unsquashables STAG (staggered stringing)
system whereby the holes in the frame are arranged in a zigzag
pattern rather than in a straight line. This is claimed to reduce
vibration and increase string tension for greater ball control.
Only the XT 450 TF, their best-selling model, remains unchanged
from last year.
OTT have also gone for
string innovation with their new top-of-the-range Atax Aerolite
150 Tour featuring a dual grommit fan stringing
system which is claimed to provide more power as well as
greater feel and control. Their best-seller is the slightly
heavier Aerolite 160, and the range is completed by the Aerolite
140 and Eco rackets. All models carry a six month warranty.
Karakals rackets are
also guaranteed against manufacturing defects, and you can
actually look to see if there are any with their new range of
clear view rackets, whose unpainted finish reveals
the woven braid and layers of graphite beneath the surface. The
top-of-the-range Blues Gold BB and Symphony Gold BB (£129.99 and
£119.99 respectively) have more features than a video recorder
and are claimed to be the thinnest rackets in the world.
Pointfore's own Hawk
racket, new last year and priced at just £59.95, has a shaft
tapering to a positively wasp-like 13 mm. It also features a
staggered stringing system and is guaranteed against faulty
workmanship, but not against "breakage due to constant
contact with the surrounding court". Their top-price racket
is the Golden Eagle at £89.99, also introduced in 96.
Titan have their own
philosophy, preferring to rely on tried and tested formulae.
"We do not introduce new technology until it is
well proven to be of some actual benefit," asserts MD Robert
Forde. "The gimmick with Titan is that there is no
gimmick." Their new model for this season, the Tiger, which
they describe as a "cult racket in the making", retails
at just £55, as does their best-selling Classic, whose head size
is just 1 cm2 short of the maximum permitted at 499 cm2.
For only £20 more you could be the proud owner of a
top-of-the-range Stealth. All Titan rackets come with a
comprehensive six month warranty.
Climax also claim to have
developed something of a cult name in squash through their
"deliberate disregard of the traditional idea that all kit
must be white and all rackets turbo-charged". Their racket
range has appropriately provocative titles, starting with the
best-selling Sixtynine, which will "turn your game
upside-down" and finishing with the stagger-strung X-Rated
at £85 "a racket so good it should be banned"
(and theyll replace it immediately if youre not
completely satisfied!).
String Electric told us
they had no new models this year but are continuing with their
popular Electre range (see our March issue), while Fischers
rackets (distributed in the UK by Douglas-Kenn) are so new that
even they dont have any details of them yet. As for Boz,
Fukuda and others, if they have anything new, theyre
certainly not telling us about it.
So, faced with this bewildering
diversity of rackets, all claiming to represent the very acme of
technological advancement, how are you to choose what to buy, and
will it really improve your game? We spoke to Israel Gefen of
Gefen Sports, who has been selling rackets for longer than even
he can remember ("Ooh, about 15 years" was his best
estimate). How does he go about matching the racket to the
player? By asking just two simple questions: How much do you want
to spend? What sort of game do you play? First decide on your
price limit and stick to it. Second be honest about your game
do you enjoy hitting the ball hard or do you like to play
the touch shots? For sheer power youll need a heavier
racket, especially if you habitually play on cold courts. But
what if you play all year round, in summer as well as winter?
"You need two rackets, of course!" (Did you hear that,
manufacturers?)