You don’t need much in the way of equipment for playing tennis, but you do need a tennis racquet. Tennis racquets come in a variety of shapes, lengths, weights, materials, sizes and stringing patterns. When choosing the racquet that is right for you, it is worth taking the time to carefully consider the many options.
Skill. Your skill level greatly impacts on what sort of racquet you will need: Beginners should look for a basic racquet. In general, oversized, pre-strung racquets provide the greatest versatility and have the largest sweet spots (a big plus for beginners). If you’re an intermediate player, then you have a decision to make. You want to work towards being a complete player, mastering both finesse and power. Your racquet should complement your game. If you’re a player that hits the ball hard, you will want a racquet that is smaller and lighter. Lighter racquets will give you greater control. If you’re a finesse player, on the other hand, then you will want a larger racquet that will give you greater power. If you’re an advanced player, you will want a high-tech composite racquet that is more expensive, but offers superior power and control.
Type of player. Larger racquet heads offer more power and less control to their shots. By the same token, smaller racquet heads offer less power, but more control. Oversized racquets measure from 107 to 135 square inches. Middle sized racquets range from 100 to 106 square inches. Smaller, more traditional racquets are less than 100 square inches. Again, traditional racquets have much better control, but they sacrifice the power of the larger racquets.
The length of a racquet has a similar relationship to power and control -- that is to say that the longer the racquet, the greater the leverage on the swing and therefore the greater the power. However, with greater power you sacrifice control. Most racquets made today are long racquets, measuring 28.5-29 inches long. More traditional racquets measure between 27.5-28 inches long. For kids, you have to make additional adjustments. A racquet should not be too heavy or unwieldy. A standard guide for children is the following:
< 4 years – 19” racquet
4-6 years – 21”
7-8 years – 23”
9-10 years – 25”
10-12 years – 26”
Of course, children who are particularly big or small for their age may need a bigger or smaller racquet, respectively. Also, more experienced players may find they can use slightly larger racquets than their age would otherwise indicate. In the end, there is no substitute for picking up the racquet and making sure the length and weight “feel right”.
Stiffness and Flexibility. If you studied your physics in high school or college, and probably even if you didn’t, you understand that stiff racquets hit balls harder than flexible racquets. Consider the fact that a ball hitting a solid wall will be returned with more energy than a ball bouncing off of a cushion. However, a racquet with greater flexibility will offer greater control over the shot. A power player, seeking to add more finesse to his or her game, should go with a slightly more flexible racquet. A finesse player, seeking to add power, should consider a less flexible racquet.
Racquet shape. The shape of the racquet involves two factors. The first is the look of the racquet. To play great, you need to feel great. And to feel great, it helps to look great. So if the shape of your racquet is aesthetically important to you and gives you more confidence, then you may choose the shape of your racquet based on appearance. However, (for a more technical approach to shape selection) an oval racquet is traditionally thought to offer a superior feel to the racquet. The sweet spot of an oval racquet is in the bottom half of the racquet. The tear-drop racquet has a larger sweet spot area allowing for a more solid hit. In fact, basically the entire face of a tear-drop racquet is the “sweet spot,” making it somewhat more practical for beginners in particular.
Grip Size. It is crucial to select the appropriate grip size. If your grip is too small, it will twist and turn in your hand and predispose you to develop tennis elbow. If your grip is too large, it will decrease the snap to your serves and, again, can predispose you to develop tennis elbow. Here is how to select the correct grip size:
Open your hand and place the end of a ruler in the middle of your palm so that the ruler is even with the bottom of the lateral crease of your palm. Next, measure the distance from the middle of your palm to the tip of your ring finger. That is your ideal grip size. If you find yourself between sizes, you can go with the smaller size and apply an over grip, which will increase the size of the grip by about 1/16 of an inch. Heat shrink sleeves can also be used to increase the grip by about 1/8 of an inch.
Strings. Once you have chosen your racquet, you’ll need to choose the right strings. For beginners and many intermediate players, pre-strung racquets are the most affordable, versatile and practical. Racquets that are not pre-strung are designed for intermediate and advanced players looking to tailor their string to their game. If you decide to get a racquet that is not pre-strung, you should understand something about strings. Natural gut provides the best feel for advanced players, but is not very durable and will need to be changed frequently. Synthetic strings offer a good balance of durability and feel for intermediate, recreational players. The thickness of the string is another consideration. Thicker strings (15 gauge) last longer but do not feel as good as thinner strings (16 and 17 gauge). When your racquet is strung, keep in mind that lower tension means more power, but also less control. More experienced players usually opt for a lower tension string.
Putting it all together. To buy the best racquet for you, it helps to know what type of player you are. A power player usually needs a racquet that will help with his or her control. A finesse player usually needs a racquet that will help increase his or her power. Ultimately, there is no substitution for taking your time in the store, picking up the racquet and taking a few practice swings.
Grant Cooper, MD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
The University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell
Related websites:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Features/SelectingRacquet/SelectingRacquet.html
http://tennis.about.com/library/weekly/aa040302.htm
http://www.epinions.com/sprt-Tennis-Racquets_Technology |
