A lot of players are anxious for new tennis racquets this time of year and have, maybe, asked for one as a gift.  A great idea, of course.

However, be sure the gift giver, or yourself, gets real!  There are some real bargains out there, but the bargains may not get you what you expect.  This can happen to any brand and the more popular the racquet, the more likely there are to be fakes!

Fake Blade 98

This is an image of a fake Wilson Blade 98 compared to a real Wilson Blade 98.

I am showing this image because without seeing this detail the fake racquet graphics will look nearly identical to the real Wilson racquet.

One of the best ways to confirm a fake or real racquet is to “bend” it, that is to check the stiffness of the racquet.  In almost every case the fake will be quite a bit more flexible.  For example, this fake racquet has a stiffness of RDC 41 whereas the real racquet has a stiffness of RDC 63.   If your racquet technician does not have a device for checking stiffness the next best thing is to look at the “insides.”  A qualified racquet technician will know what the insides of the real racquet look like.

Another sign of fakery is the grip pallet.  Most performance racquets will have a foam pallet molded over the graphite shaft or a two-piece pallet that is attached to the racquet shaft.

Fake racquets may very likely have a continuous graphite pallet.  You can quickly look under the first couple of inches of the grip and see if it is foam or graphite.

Clamshell grip pallet

If you are requesting a new tennis racquet be sure you get it from a local business, if possible, or an otherwise reputable source.

If you have any questions at all, please call your local dealer or us (407.491.4755) to be sure you “GET REAL.”