Well here’s the Harrow Custom Vibe squash racket. This guy weighs in at 125 grams unstrung, and is supposed to have an even balance point. That makes it a very light racket, though it’s a smidge heavier than the Harrow Custom Spark, which is advertised as 120 grams unstrung.
There’s also the same racket in this black version. I think this is the more recent paint job. This is what I’ve seen Chris Simpson use, for example at the HK Open:
Like Lisa says, this racket bears the signature of Natalie Grainger, former world #1.
Here’s a bigger picture:
This racket is 145 grams so a medium weight. The Harrow Website says the balance point is 380mm, which should feel slightly head-heavy. Oddly they state the racket has an even balance. Maybe when you feel the Fury, it just makes the racket feel a bit lighter than it would otherwise normally.
Well here’s the Harrow Dread Vapor, a custom-painted version of the Harrow Vapor.
The product description on this racket makes me cringe a little bit:
It’s time to get irie with the newest design of Harrow’s best selling racquet around the world. With the same performance and playability that you have come to expect from the Vapor, this jammin’ makeover is sure to improve your game and style, mon.
Maybe this is the racket Bob Marley would have played squash with. Speaking of Bob Marley, did you ever watch the documentary called Marley? Immensely entertaining. There was a pretty amusing / tragic moment when Ziggy Marley describes how competitive his dad was. Bob used to challenge his kids to running races, but he wouldn’t let his kids win. Instead Bob would sprint ahead as FAST as he possibly could. A driven guy, that Bob Marley. You should watch the documentary. Mon.
Check out this picture of Donna Urquhart‘s signature racket, The Wave, which is a custom paintjob of the Harrow Spark. The racket is styled with waves, after Donna’s love of surfing.
Thanks to a reader named Bopper for spotting this photo on Twitter, and another reader named D for the tip that this custom racket is based off the Harrow Spark frame.
As luck would have it, I actually got a glimpse of the genuine article in my league match earlier this week. Someone on the opposing team was actually playing with The Wave! He said he really liked the feel of it and since he’s sponsored by Harrow he was able to get a few for himself.
Here’s the Harrow Custom Spark squash racket that both Adrian Grant and Latasha Khan were playing with at the 2012 Hong Kong squash open.
So I gather under the direction of Jonathon Power, they took the Harrow Vapor and shaved off a few grams of weight to create the Spark. They say it’s 135 grams and that’s including the weight of the strings so yeah it’s pretty light. (It’s 120 grams unstrung.)
If you buy this racket, what happens is Jonathon Power gets an alert. He immediately goes downstairs to his squash lair, and takes a brand new Vapor out of the wrapper. He slowly, methodically whittles off parts of the racquet until it is the perfect weight and he cannot remove a single ounce more. Then, in one fluid motion, he hand-paints his signature onto the frame. He then places the racket onto a special pillow made of old bandanas used during competition play. He lights a candle, and then sprinkles onto the racket some rubber that he has previously shaved off a squash ball using a microplane. And then, he ships the racket to you.
I’ve seen Harrow squash rackets everywhere. I’ve even played with one before. But for some reason I’ve never posted about one on this site. But that’s all going to change riiiiiiight…….now. This is the Harrow Vapor, which I’ve seen recently in the hands of Raneem El Weleily and Omar Abdel Aziz, both at the US Open.
Why is this called the Vapor? It’s because when you slice this racket through the air, it leaves behind a trail of water vapor. Not from the racket itself, but from the eyes of your opponent, as he weeps, softly.
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