Spring may be better here, without limits (5)
I believe the answer is:
caper
'spring' is the definition.
(I know that caper is a type of spring)
'better here without limits' is the wordplay.
'better' becomes 'cap' (both can mean to beat somebody else's attempt).
'without limits' says to take the centre (letters at the edges or 'limits' are removed).
The central letters of 'here' are 'er'.
'cap'+'er'='CAPER'
'may be' is the link.
(Other definitions for caper that I've seen before include "Frolic - plant with edible buds" , "Frolic, prank" , "Antic, prank" , "illegal scheme" , "that may be cut by the energetic?" .)