There’s no foolproof way of shortening the courting phase of a racquet switch, but I’ve found a few tactics to be helpful, all of which center around quickly building confidence with the frame.
First, work on drills that build up your shot toleration and consistency. You can still play tiebreakers, ground-stroke games or target-hitting competitions, but try to stay away from traditional
set scoring.
If you’re going to play a match in the early stages, make sure it’s one you’re 99 percent certain of winning. That way you can relax and see what you’re capable of with the frame without feeling threatened by your competition. Try to avoid toss-up matches against frequent adversaries who can beat you, as scoreboard pressure can creep in, and a loss may shake your belief in your equipment decision. If doubles presents a stress-free environment, try that, but I tend to steer clear, as I don’t want to let my partner down while working out the kinks.
Another favorite tactic is scheduling matches against players you traditionally struggle with. That will free expectations—a loss won’t sting so much—and if you have a strong showing, it will reaffirm your judgment in choosing the new racquet. A few matches like that and you’ll be ready to take it out into regular competition.