Well here’s the Harrow Vibe, which comes in a few styles. Apparently this racket was originally produced as a lighter version of the Harrow Mojo, which I’ve never posted. Anyway Jonathan Power ended up making a custom signature version of this racket, and they have continued it with new versions over the years.
Reviews
Here’s my video review of this racket:
Here’s a review from Paul at PDH Sports:
Harrow Vibe
This green and black joint came out in 2016:
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Spotted
Ryan Cuskelly has been playing with this one. Only noticed at the 2018 TOC. Here he is back in May 2017:
Photo via @squashchamps →
Here’s a cool black and gray color scheme, which came out for the 2013/2014 season:
![Harrow Vibe [Black]](https://www.squashsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/harrow-vibe-black-800x800.jpg)
Spotted
Here’s Omar Abdel Meguid using the black Vibe I think:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
And Chris Simpson too:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
Jonathon Power Signature
Here’s the 2016 version of the Harrow Vibe, Jonathon Power signature:
Image via harrowsports.com
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This is the second JP signature Vibe. This one came out in 2013/2014.
Image via holabirdsports.com
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Buy (Canada): controlthet.com
Buy (France): amazon.fr
Buy (UK): just-squash.co.uk | pdhsports.com
Buy (US): amazon.com | holabirdsports.com | squashgear.com
Racket Specs chart
String pattern: 14x18Measured weight (all-in): 144 gramsMeasured balance: 37 cm
Spotted
Karim Ali Fathi was using the Vibe at the 2015 World Championships:
Photo via Steve Cubbins →
This was the first JP signature Vibe, and it came out I believe in the 2012/2013 season. According to a tip from D, the racket itself is a really dark navy color.
Spotted
Here’s Karim Abdel Gawad at the British Open:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
Reviews
Here’s a review from Paul at PDH Sports:
Karim Abdel Gawad Signature
Here’s Karim Abdel Gawad in 2016 using a special Vibe cosmetic:
Photo via SquashSite →
Dave Rosen from Harrow said it’s a special version of the Vibe:
@squashsource @Karimsamy91 is using a special Vibe we made for him. He will soon sport a brand new beautiful BFA signature custom Vibe.
— Dave Rosen (@drosensquash) September 20, 2016
(BFA = “Baby-Faced Assasin”, Gawad’s sort of silly but sort of perfect Squash TV nickname.)
Harrow posted about this custom version for Gawad in 2017. Thanks to Rich for the tip!
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS @richardjgibbs! You are #HarrowTOC winner of the VIBE Custom @Karimsamy91 VIBE Squash Racquet!!! 🎉 PM your contact info pic.twitter.com/wvrBTt8hjH
— Harrow Sports (@HarrowSports) January 20, 2017
Here’s another, slightly different Karim Abdel Gawad signature racket, spotted in June 2017. Thanks to Sherif for the tip!
Image via harrowsports.com →
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Spotted
Here’s what Karim posted on Instagram — I think this is the same design. Thanks to Ivan for the tip!
Original Harrow Vibe
Here’s the original Harrow Vibe. Not sure when this came out, probably 2011 or before.
Image via squashgear.com
D-Man says
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There are a lot of things I really like about this racquet. I can generate pace with relative ease. I can drop from just about anywhere on the court and the ball consistently goes where I point it. If I am under pressure, I can generally loft the ball with decent accuracy thanks to the forgiving head size.
I’ve recently moved to the Vibe from a Spark and the one thing I can’t do with it as well is snap my shots on kills, especially cross court ones. I suspect it is the more balanced nature of the frame vs. the slightly head heavy Spark that is causing this.
Is there a Harrow frame that is similar to the Vibe but slightly more head heavy? Alternatively, has anybody experimented with adding a bit of weight to the head of the Vibe?
Thanks.
Ivan says
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NEW VIBE SQUASH RACQUET – KARIM ABDEL GAWAD CUSTOM
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV4x2d1BhCN/
Sherif Gehad says
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Here is the new custom vibe for Karim Abd El Gawad
http://www.harrowsports.com/harrow-vibe-squash-racquet-karim-abdel-gawad-custom-black-vegas-gold#.WThAgYWxWEd
Lloyd says
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Looks slick!!
Isak Joramo says
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Here’s the custom Karim Abdel Gawad version he actually uses. Not sure why they released other custom versions with his name given how how seems to have played with this one for quite some time. http://www.harrowsports.com/harrow-vibe-squash-racquet-karim-abdel-gawad-custom#.WJojejKDq1s
Rich says
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I think it’s probably because the version he uses doesn’t have his name on it. The other version is very heavily branded and more recognisably Gawad’s. I guess it’s down to preference- tbh if I hadn’t been given the orange one for free I would have picked the black one.
Sherif Gehad says
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Hi Isac, Rich
actually Karim is still using a dark navy harrow vibe..
you can pause this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e8dd1e1aUI&t=310s) at 0:36/10.39.. you will see: USED IN TOURNAMENT PLAY BY
KARIM ABDEL GAWAD
probably a very specific custom racket for Karim.. maybe only 2 rackets world wide.. both with Karim 🙂
i contacted harrow team and i received confirmation from John Burke and Kelly Williams that Karim is still using that dark navy one.
Also new one came in black color, seems for marketing reasons (probably Harrow can’t re-publish old vibe with same color) so they made a new color (same weight same balance like old one)
and seems that new one has only 2 letters KG (not handwritten signature)
old vibe navy blue:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HH4OCM?tag=amiazo-20
new vibe Karim ABDEL GAWAD Black:
http://www.harrowsports.com/harrow-vibe-squash-racquet-karim-abdel-gawad-custom#.WK9F0PLw_oN
hope i was useful
michel goulche says
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It seems that Ryan Cuskelly has switch from the Vapor to the Vibe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYNoWqNBRpM
bernard says
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possibly a silly Q, are all the Vibe frames identical, just different colour schemes?
Pierre says
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I believe they are identical, just different color schemes. Actually I’m told that different paint colors have different weights, so this could have a slight impact on the balance – but safe to say I probably couldn’t detect a difference 🙂
Bernard says
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Thanks Pierre! i’m a big fan of the carboflex 125, but just looking at the way Gawad plays would tempt me to try out one of these rackets.
b says
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Is Gawad still using this? man, he plays the game of squash beautifully.
DaveP says
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Yes – he’s still using the Vibe.. all the Vibe rackets are the same apparently (JP version and normal Vibe) – just different cosmetics.
b says
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thanks DaveP
Rich says
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Gawad has got his own custom design now as well – only know because the awesome people at Harrow ran a competition and I won one. I’ll post how I get on with it, usually play with a different balance but fully agree with the comments about Karim’s style!
You can see it in this tweet:
https://twitter.com/HarrowSports/status/822542728181481472
B says
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well done mate! he wasn’t using that custom design at the recent ToC was he?
Pierre says
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Thanks Rich, I added that to the post above.
B: looks like Gawad was using one of the other Vibes, at least in the final:
Rich says
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Took some pictures of the Gawad Vibe – quite like it so far, but will need to get used to it after playing with bridgeless Prince’s for 15+ years.
Available on the Harrow site as well, in both the black cosmetic and the white/orange I got. no pictures of the latter though so I’ve uploaded some here:
http://www.richardjamesgibbs.com/files/vibe/
Skyler says
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Am I crazy or are there two versions of the 2013 Vibe that look exactly the same, with no differentiating specs. The only ‘difference’ I can find is the small silhouette on the neck.
http://www.harrowsports.com/vibe-squash-racquet-limited-edition-yellow-black
vs
http://www.harrowsports.com/vibe-squash-racquet-jonathon-power-signature-edition-black-yellow
Pierre Bastien says
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Hi Skyler I think they’re exactly the same except for those little touches – the JP version has that little logo of a diving Jonathon Power on the throat, and his signature on the side.
jake says
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different strings…look closely
J Leizman says
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Pierre,
I assume you have been a victim of auto-correct and know that Jonathon’s name is not spelled Jonathan. Do you mind correcting it going forward?
Thanks.
Pierre Bastien says
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Oh dear! Looks like I need more sleep… corrected!
D says
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Pierre, you’re linking to the new Spark, which is 135g and admittedly, looks very similar!
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks D I’ve updated the post! That explains the weight difference then… 🙂
M says
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I have to agree with the above comments about the durability of Harrow rackets. I have personally played with many of them before and I absolutely love the playability of Harrow rackets, especially the Fury. However, they really don’t seem to last long. I have a junior who managed to break 2 Jewels in around three months and she’s far from what you’d classify as an aggressive player or a hard hitter who smashes the back corners.
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks M!
D says
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I got my hands on a demo, because I wanted to give it a try. The racket is actually a really dark navy. Depending on the lighting, it’s either blueish, or black, so I think it’s actually the same paintjob, but with different lighting for photography. We’d have to confirm with Harrow I guess.
Pierre says
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Thanks D! I will try and check with Harrow.
Seb says
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As soon as I placed the order for this, I got a notification that Jonathon Power has been alerted and he is heading downstairs to his squash lair, and shaving off 15 grams from from a brand new Vapor. I will be getting the delivery next week.
Ok, wishful thinking on my part and enough with the copy/paste. On a serious note, has anyone on this forum played with Harrow rackets and are they really worth the $200+ price ? What makes them expensive compared to the other brands. I have been seeing more and more players using Harrow lately at my club (Vibe and Vapor particularly) and the players really really love these rackets. I am interested in Vibe since it is evenly balanced, but have been holding off on it till I can get some feedback on it.
D says
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Seb, the Spark and the Vapor are very popular at my club. While it seems like the rackets have not changed much over the years aside from a new paintjob, they play very nicely, and I can understand their popularity. If you look at the other top offerings from Dunlop and Black Knight, they are in the $180-$200 range. The other brands offer them at a bit less, $150-$160.
While the the Harrows are great rackets and are gaining in popularity, I have experienced myself, heard from others, and read on the internet comments about their durability. They are, unfortunately, fragile. Moreso than the new Dunlops. My Spark broke within 5 weeks of purchase, and the most abuse I put it through were wall scrapes on tight length. Someone else at the club went through 3 Sparks in a bit over a year before he gave up and switched. A Google search of Harrow reviews online will give you similar statements. So, great racket, but only if you can afford having them replaced often.
D
Jeroen Mulderij says
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A fellow junior I played has a the same racket I think and he was angry because he was 6-2 in front in the fifth and I came back to 10-6 to win the game eventually with 11-9, but anyway he was angry that I came back and hit with his handle against the backwall and the rally after that he broke his handle (HE GOT A LET!!! :O). Was my worst match ever, but happy that I won.
Jeroen
Ted says
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Seb,
Wonder what you ended up purchasing and if you are happy….
My son has just gone through TWO of the JP Spark series racquet in a less than 5 month period. Second racquet last a total of 6 hours of playing time approx. He is not a wall or floor basher. 2nd racquet broke on a normal wall scrape. He and I have also used Cheaper Wilson racquets and boy do they sure handle an amazing amount of abuse. I purposely tried to break the frame of mine one day and slammed it hard against a wall, racquet is still going strong….
So far not too impressed with quality of Harrow based on the cost.
Nick says
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To those above with issues with Harrow durability, I’m afraid my experiences are the same. I went through five/six Harrow Vapors (black/red) over a year and a half. It’s a lovely racket to play with, and it gives a lot of confidence to go for shots with it, however I couldn’t justify spending so much and then literally throwing it in the bin.
Switched to Tecnifibre Carboflex 125, as I played with the 130 prior (check out both if you can). The Tecnifibre doesn’t have as much feel, and doesn’t give me the same confidence as the Harrow, but I have got used to them now. Considering both the rackets I bought have lasted a year, with a few noticeable collisions with the wall, it’s a trade-off I’m willing to make. I’ve just bought a couple more as I want to play around a bit with different strings (look around for two racket deals, and don’t forget voucher codes!).
Ted says
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Much appreciate the feedback Nick; thank you
Cheers
Ted