One of the eternal doubts when your favorite racket has been broken or damaged is knowing if it is worth repairing the padel racket. The question has an easy answer if the shovel was not excessively expensive: do not try to fix it, think about a new shovel. However, if the investment you made to buy it was high, it is best to remedy the breakage.
Usually, padel players go to workshops and racket repair services to fix their blades. Even so, there are also those who dare to repair the paddle tennis racket in their own home. If your case is the second, pay attention to the following lines if you want to give your shovel a second chance.
How to repair padel rackets?
The repair case that we present below takes place in blades that have suffered breaks on the face of the blade, for example, a fracture between several holes. Likewise, the case we present is not about a situation in which the fissure has affected the rubber. If a deep rubber break occurs, you better think about renew your padel racket.
To tackle this surface repair, there are kits with all the necessary products to fix them.
Sand the layer
The first step is to sand the damaged surface. Normally this step is carried out with an electric sandpaper, although it is also possible to do it with a small fine or extra-fine grain sandpaper. When the entire broken surface is sanded, remove all the dust generated.
Prepare repair patches
With the entire surface clean, cut out enough carbon fiber or fiberglass fabric to cover the break area. You can make a template to replicate the same cut.
Apply resin and fiber layers
Once all the fibers are trimmed, apply the Epoxy resin over the sanded area. When the entire layer is covered, add the first layer of fiber. You will have to repeat this process several times. Apply resin over the previous layer and add a new fiber patch. When the layers you have added equal or slightly exceed the surface, do not add more layers. Although it depends on the thickness of the sanding, three or four layers of fiber will be enough to cover the damage.
Press on the layers
To fix and ensure that all the layers adhere to the blade, you must press on the laminated area. The goal of this process is to press the resin so that the set of layers reduces its thickness.
If you do not have clamps to press on the shovel, you can also use a heavy element and place it on top of the arrangement. But, be careful with the pressure, if you exceed the force on the blade you can deform it.
The estimated pressure time will depend on the manufacturer, read the instructions on your kit carefully and follow their recommendations.
Remove excess resin
Once you remove the pressure pieces you will have to remove any remaining resin from the repaired area. Holes that have been covered by resin are easily removed. First, use a cutter or knife to remove the resin and then add a little more glue to the edges of the holes and sand them to outline their finish.
Finally, we want to highlight that once the blade is repaired we will find a point with a different roughness and paint. Although the second aspect affects more aesthetically, the touch in the repaired place can affect blows with effects that impact that area. Likewise, the weight of the blade can be modified by adding more or fewer layers of fiber.
When is it worth repairing a padel racket?
Fixing a padel racket is worth it in the following situations:
- Cost: if the damaged racket has been expensive, it is worth repairing the padel racket. On the other hand, if the shovel has been relatively cheap, it may be more worthwhile to buy a new shovel.
- Severity: When the break in the face or frame is practically superficial and has not reached the rubber, a simple fix with several layers of fiber and resins serve as a fix.
- Age: the rubber on the blades after hours and hours of use does not retain the same properties as the first day. If the shovel that has been damaged is old, it is not worth fixing it.
Does a repaired paddle tennis racket work the same?
After repairing the paddle tennis racket, its operation will be the same as before as long as the repair has been done correctly and the crack has been completely covered. However, the weight can be altered with the repair and slightly modify the play. Another important aspect is roughness. If the face of the racket was rough, with the fix we will not recover that touch, a condition that also affects the game.
