This is a video I recorded all the way back in November comparing the Tecnifibre Carboflex 125 S vs. Dunlop Hyperfibre+ Evolution Pro, and I’m just getting to publishing it.
This video ended up not making as much sense as I’d hoped. What I’m trying to say is the Dunlop FELT a little heavier, head-heavier and stiffer than the Tecnifibre. But when I measured the rackets, there was either very little difference or the actual result was opposite to how the rackets felt in the hand.
Anyway these are both high-quality rackets and you can’t go wrong. The Dunlop suits my preference a little better.
Brent says
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After my post, I decided to look up string drag – it is a more popular topic for badminton it seems, but some math types determined, the strings represent just under 20% of the surface area of a racquet. Squash patterns aren’t as dense, but the strings are 20% thicker or so, so probably a similar factor.
The analogy someone said is just imagine being able to swing a raquet as quickly as an unstrung one.
I think an Iron Byron for squash would be fun and eliminate the vague marketing that mfgs. share every new year.
Keep up the great work. Maybe a major mfg will show you how they test their racquets some day.
Tjeerd says
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Hi Pierre,
Maybe your confusion is explained best by the “magic” word : swingweight. The swingweight of a racket is the combination of its balancepoint and total weight.
You can calculate the swingweight using this online tool.
How to accurately measure the weight of the head and bottom of a racket is explained here.
Some rules of thumb to keep in mind:
– Lighter rackets tend to be more headheavy.
– Rackets are usually manufactured with a tolerance of +/- 5%. This means that you can have a considerably difference in swingweight between to apparently equal rackets.
– Increasing / decreasing grip size will have big influence on the sense of swingweight.
– Even when you equalize the weight and balancepoint of two rackets, ie. by using small strips of lead, you can sense a difference in swingweight. This is probably caused by differences in how the weight is distributed within the racket.
Pierre says
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Thanks Tjeerd I will check those links out. The racket stiffness app bundle also has a swingweight measurement tool included, which I have been meaning to check out
Rod says
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Is there any real difference in power between the two? I’d imagine that if the strings are a little looser on the Carboflex that it would have the edge in that category.
Pierre says
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I feel like the Dunlop had a little more power. I know that sounds opposite to what you’d think with tighter strings. I think maybe I just like the feel of a crisper shot and that feels like power to me. The longer I do this squash equipment thing the more I feel like it’s all subjective!!
Brent says
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This is a great comment. I really feel like it is subjective. Grams of weight is tiny. 10 gms is about 10 medium paper clips and evenly distributed on a racquet isn’t noticeable.
What I feel is noticiable is drag from strings and is fatiguing. Multifiber, thick strings have significant more swing resistance vs. others just cut through air. I also think head deflection (sweat spot) and follow through should be measured. By follow through, I mean that sense that ball doesnt make the racquet redirect intended direction. I imagine this is largely based on head weight.
It would also be interesting to compare power across player types. I don’t think hard hitters differ much between racquets (5%), but is it possible that more wrist shooters could get 15%more power from an ideal racquet?
I also think power hitters over time will revert to historic power range on most racquets they try as they adjust their swing timing and body weight shifting. Power is a function of swing speed and string recoil. Racquet stiffness doesn’t manufacture power alone, but your ability to keep your swing speed through contact duration with max potential swing speed does. Too light and racquet gets recoil and power-loss, too heavy and don’t get max swing speed, but get max energy transfer into ball.
Maybe a good test would be to measure ball recoil after being shot with one of those squash ball shooters vs. measuring racquet stiffness.
No idea where I’m going with this. Just sharing my thoughts. I think I’m realizing I need max sweet spot, balanced racquet, with good strings.
Cheers
Pierre says
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Thanks Brent good comment. The 10 paper clips is a good visual. And I never thought about string drag.
What we really need is to come up with the “Iron Byron” for squash.