Rough or Smooth?

[Michael Banks]

Does anyone use rough or smooth anymore on their rackets. When I get mine strung they don't seem to put the thread on to do this.

What do people do to decide on serve? I know their is tossing up the shuttle, anything else?

[rachyuk]

We have a few players who use the emblem on the base of the racket handle...usually a manufacturer's logo or something and it's either facing 'up' or 'down'...on the spin.

Obviously this only works if the image is an irregular shape - no good with a circle or square!

[c5093780]

Using the racket to conduct the toss seems to have disapeared almost completely.
Practically everybody tosses up the shuttle.

[Stevenio]

Rough or smooth!! I haven't heard that term used for about 10 years!

That brings back memories of spinning the racket at the net.

Everyone knocks the shuttle up in the air nowadays, it feels better. I don't suppose spinning your racket till it falls on the floor is too good for it either!!

I wonder who first started the trend of hitting the shuttle in the air?

[NigelDiplock]

I think the technical term for 'rough and smooth' is 'trebling' - I always ask for this when having a racquet restrung and there has never been any problem with having it done. Call me a traditionalist, but I reckon it's a shame that this practice is dying out. I guess this has much to do with many manufacturers not bothering with trebling when they supply racquets (especially the cheaper ones), probably to cut down on costs, albeit a minimal saving...

[rachyuk]

Mind you, knocking the shuttle skywards and waiting for the landing position to determin who serves etc has to be better for the racket, than spinning it on it's head, every game!

Maybe there is a study revealing a weakness in the frame, where people are spinning for serve too aggressively and grinding down the delicate fibres of string and layered materials in the frame.

[ivorhardon]

personly i like it rough!!! real rough u no wat i mean!!!!!!!!!!

[mccrackin]

if uvor hardon then phil mccrackin

[ivorhardon]

phil,
I think you have the wrong web site this is a serious web site and i dont think u understand that!!

[Stevenio]

Rachel, I don't think that there was a study involved. I think the change to knocking the shuttle up in the air is probably a symptom of the advancement of rackets. No-one cared when they were spinning wooden or aluminum rackets. It was probably common sense that took over when it came to dropping your brand new £50 1 piece graphite racket on the floor!!

I also remember that before knocking the shuttle up took over, many people managed to perfect the art of spinning the racket in their hand, closing their eyes and then stopping the racket spinning. Then the rough or smooth could be determined by which side was facing upwards! This would avoid the need for the racket having to hit the floor.

[Michael Banks]

Steven, I remeber the spinning of the racket and the ability to stop it on the side you want. However, it isn't difficult to hit the shuttle up with a bit of backspin and make it point back towards you ;o)

[NeilNicholls]

We have a mix of Rough/Smooth and Shuttle hitters in our club.

When there isn't a rough/smooth on your strings though, you will probably find that the knots at the ends of the string(s) are all on the same side of the racket. So you can have a knots up/down