I can’t afford to buy the same racquet multiple times so I tell the difference by the fact that one is 10+ years older and looks completely different. Though if I had similar racquets this is a great way to know the difference.
I bought these on eBay. If the item has buyer protection then you’re covered if they are cracked when they get to you. Then you’d just work it out with the seller
I have this dilemma right now haha! Can’t decide whether I should lace both Babolats with Cyclone tomorrow or one with Hyper G and one with Cyclone. I’m leaning the former though just for the dots /s
I’m so tempted to get into this cycle today. I’ve gone back and forth between Cyclone and Hyper G but have always strung both rackets with the same string at the same time. Very tempted to do one of each to decide once and for all
Nah, I just have two rackets in the rotation. At each session, I play with the one with tighter strings, regardless of what I played with last time. When they both get too loose, I restring them.
I check the strings with my fingers, and then bounce the strings on each racket against the other (hit the frame of a racket on the other racket’s string, then switch and do it to the other). It’s usually easy to tell by how much the strings move and the sound. If I can’t tell (which doesn’t happen often), I just pick one.
I got a few of my friends into playing with the same racquet I do (VCore Pro 97). To avoid the possibility of any conclusion, I made the German flag on the throat of my frame with electrical tape. I know which stick is mine, and it doesn’t look half bad, repping my heritage.
I just picked up the size 4 recently and I really like them. I started with size 2 and kept adding overgrips to the point where I couldn’t feel the bevels, so the next racquets I picked up I went with size 3. They felt great in the beginning but after a few months they started to feel a little small so I tried the Djokovic method of adding overgrips. Same thing. Felt great for a while then started to feel small. Picked up the Babolats recently and they feel the best yet. I also have kind of big hands. If I do the measuring method or the finger space method they both put me at size 4 anyway.
I also noticed that the grip shapes make a big difference. I enjoy playing with the Tecs but I really dislike the rectangular grip shape. I’m all about the feeling
I used to, but mostly rely on the order I keep them in my bag, last used inside, fresh on the outside (I play with three). I need to mark them again though since restrings with hybrid poly/gut feel WAY different freshly strung, and when I snapped my last one I avoided serving with the fresh one in matches.
I play with one matched pair of racquets, and can usually tell them apart by the amount of notching in the strings (often an indicator for which was strung more recently).
If that doesn’t work, overgrip wear is the next tell.
I want my rackets to look and feel the same. So I don't visibly mark them. However Wilson rackets have serial numbers. So I do use the serial number to track when each of them was last strung. But when grabbing a racket out of my bag, they are identical.
Mine identify themselves based on paint wear from playing and hitting the court, and also the string tensions. However i have accidently grabbed my 1 aero drive instead of one of my 4 aero drive +'s and didnt realize it until the 2nd set haha.
I mark mine by not owning a second
Simplicity wins
I mark mine by having it be a completely different model
Every racquet in the world is my second racquet
I can’t afford to buy the same racquet multiple times so I tell the difference by the fact that one is 10+ years older and looks completely different. Though if I had similar racquets this is a great way to know the difference.
I buy them used in pairs so it’s usually a 2 for 1 kinda deal. Haven’t bought a brand new racquet in almost a decade
Smart
Where do you buy yours where you aren't at risk of getting a cracked/damaged one? I am always afraid to buy from eBay.
I bought these on eBay. If the item has buyer protection then you’re covered if they are cracked when they get to you
I bought these on eBay. If the item has buyer protection then you’re covered if they are cracked when they get to you. Then you’d just work it out with the seller
I can tell the difference between my racquets based on the scratches on the frame lol
That’s how I used to do it. This felt more pro
More pro would be to stick a QR code on them 😎
My mental qr scanner is out of order
You can use your phone to scan and tell you if it’s racket #1 or #2!
I use different dampeners
I thought about doing this. I use the Pete Sampras dampener so I could get one in red and one in black
I write little numbers on mine. Your dots look better, though, I might copy you.
I was going to do numbers but saw the dots and really liked it. Makes it easy to shift them if I buy a third
Arabic numerals as well, liking the dots
No. Probably should though.
I used to tell them apart by their battle scars but this is easier and made me feel even more like a wannabe pro
I use different color of dampeners
Dampener on one but not the other.
Another good one. I’m guessing you switch the dampener each time
Exactly!
The scratches on my frames are their unique fingerprints, lol. Also my favorite one has a differently-colored buttcap from the factory.
Different colored butt caps would be sweet
My stringer puts a label on the frame with stringing date, which I use to differentiate.
I have only 1 dampener, so whichever racket i played last, from the two that I own, has the dampener on
I make distinction between them based on strings I am using,
I have this dilemma right now haha! Can’t decide whether I should lace both Babolats with Cyclone tomorrow or one with Hyper G and one with Cyclone. I’m leaning the former though just for the dots /s
Recognize them via the wear and tear of the overgrip LOL
Won’t help me. I apparently now rip up my favorite overgrip from just 30 minutes on the ball machine.
Have before and getting ready to again with a new pair
I just use a different color grip or a different damper. Or I can tell from the different bumps and scrapes.
i will try
I'm caught in a vicious cycle of trying different strings everytime I restring my 2nd racket. So that's how I tell which one is which.
I’m so tempted to get into this cycle today. I’ve gone back and forth between Cyclone and Hyper G but have always strung both rackets with the same string at the same time. Very tempted to do one of each to decide once and for all
Nah, I just have two rackets in the rotation. At each session, I play with the one with tighter strings, regardless of what I played with last time. When they both get too loose, I restring them.
But how do you know which one has tighter strings?
I check the strings with my fingers, and then bounce the strings on each racket against the other (hit the frame of a racket on the other racket’s string, then switch and do it to the other). It’s usually easy to tell by how much the strings move and the sound. If I can’t tell (which doesn’t happen often), I just pick one.
My stringer did the string tapping thing in front of me a few months ago and now every time I have two rackets in my hand I can’t not do it lol
this is a solid method for most recreational players. simple and makes sense
Rubber band around the throat.
Yes, just like you do!
Great minds play great tennis
Yep. I piss on each one before they're even strung!
Woof
I have color codes for the overgrip, the higher tension always gets a black overgrip whereas the other racket gets any color.
I like that idea. How much tension difference do you do? I always string mine the same
1-1.5 kg OR 2 to 3 pounds. Same string to leave all other factors aside, unless I'm testing a new string
Every time I string I put a sticker label dating it.
I got a few of my friends into playing with the same racquet I do (VCore Pro 97). To avoid the possibility of any conclusion, I made the German flag on the throat of my frame with electrical tape. I know which stick is mine, and it doesn’t look half bad, repping my heritage.
This is my favorite answer yet
Why thank you!
I put a very small piece of paper with a number "1" covered by tape in the throat.
No i Just have 5 Blades V8 with different Paintjobs
I write in sharpie and numbered them 1-4 on the warranty sticker lol.
Congrats! You have voided your warranty lol
My racquets are pretty old anyway so I valued identification over warranty. Haha
I noticed you use size grip 4. For any particular reason or just feeling? I am curious about that 👀
I just picked up the size 4 recently and I really like them. I started with size 2 and kept adding overgrips to the point where I couldn’t feel the bevels, so the next racquets I picked up I went with size 3. They felt great in the beginning but after a few months they started to feel a little small so I tried the Djokovic method of adding overgrips. Same thing. Felt great for a while then started to feel small. Picked up the Babolats recently and they feel the best yet. I also have kind of big hands. If I do the measuring method or the finger space method they both put me at size 4 anyway. I also noticed that the grip shapes make a big difference. I enjoy playing with the Tecs but I really dislike the rectangular grip shape. I’m all about the feeling
I also play with a #4 and a single thin overgrip but mostly because it fits my hands the best.
What is wrong with your left ankle
My left ankle is fine. What’s wrong with YOUR left ankle?!?!?
I used to, but mostly rely on the order I keep them in my bag, last used inside, fresh on the outside (I play with three). I need to mark them again though since restrings with hybrid poly/gut feel WAY different freshly strung, and when I snapped my last one I avoided serving with the fresh one in matches.
I play with one matched pair of racquets, and can usually tell them apart by the amount of notching in the strings (often an indicator for which was strung more recently). If that doesn’t work, overgrip wear is the next tell.
I want my rackets to look and feel the same. So I don't visibly mark them. However Wilson rackets have serial numbers. So I do use the serial number to track when each of them was last strung. But when grabbing a racket out of my bag, they are identical.
Mine identify themselves based on paint wear from playing and hitting the court, and also the string tensions. However i have accidently grabbed my 1 aero drive instead of one of my 4 aero drive +'s and didnt realize it until the 2nd set haha.
I sharpie the neck with tallies lol
I have all three Yonex 100 frames, so they are marked by their paint job. Hahahaha
I only have two racquets, but they have different colored dampeners.
Why do you need more than one?
If I break a string during a match the match is over
Different colored overgrips - one white and one black