What Type Of Tennis Racquet Should I Buy
Discover how to choose the best tennis racket for you. Whether you're looking for a beginner tennis racket, or seeking a racket to give you the perfect combination of power, spin and control, let Wilson be your guide to finding the perfect tennis racket for every type of player.
what type of tennis racquet should i buy
As one of the longest-running tennis equipment brands in the world, we know there are many different types of tennis players. Our job is to make a racket for each one of them. Wilson offers four key racket lines that each focus on a specific performance benefit, those being Precision, Feel, Power and Control. Once a player knows what benefit they are looking for out of their racket, we have varying weights and head sizes that provide an additional level of customization for any type of player.
Regardless of your swing style, Wilson has a racket built just for you. Players who play with shortened or flat swings typically prefer their rackets to generate power. For this swing style, beginners or intermediate players should go for the Ultra tennis racket, while more advanced players should grab a Pro Staff.
Basically you will have a fast, slow or average speed swing. Any tennis coach or decent tennis player will be able to look at your swing and tell you if its fast or slow or average. A faster swing will often generate more power than a slower swing in which case the racket you buy should be less powerful as your fast swing will add the power for you. You would want more control from your racket so a narrower frame will probably be right for you.
Are you aggressive or defensive? Most players are one or the other which will have an effect on the type of racket you should choose. If you are an aggressive player then you will probably want to try and hit the ball harder which means a more powerful racket might be right for you. If you are a defensive player than a lot of the time you will want to use the pace of the ball that your opponent has hit at you, in which case a narrower framed racket might be the one for you. Obviously you should take into your body shape and your swing speed here.
To begin breaking down the vast selection of tennis racquets on the market, we'll divide them into four primary categories: power, tweener and modern player's and traditonal player's racquets. We'll dive into each of these categories below.
The standard length for an adult tennis racquet is 27 inches, but racquets are available in lengths ranging from 26.5 to 29 inches (29 inches is the legal maximum for tournament play). A longer racquet provides more reach on groundstrokes, added leverage on serves and slightly more power overall than standard length racquets; all other things being equal. The added length of longer racquets results in a higher swingweight, which means a little more effort is required to maneuver the racquet. Many power racquets are lighter to keep them maneuverable even at longer lengths.
Balance: A racquet can be one of three things when it comes to balance: head light, head heavy or even balanced. A head-light racquet will have more of its mass located toward the handle end of the racquet. Most traditional player's racquets are head light to help keep them feeling maneuverable even though they are the heaviest type of racquet. Lightweight power racquets tend to be head heavy. With plenty of mass located toward the head of the racquet, some stability is retained despite the racquet having a light overall weight. We are then left with the medium weight racquets, which come in at an even balance or close to it. When the mass is distributed evenly throughout the racquet a blend of stability and maneuverability can be achieved without making the racquet too heavy or too light.
To a certain point, stiffer racquets are generally less comfortable than more flexible racquets. A very stiff frame will transmit more impact shock to the wrist, elbow and shoulder than a medium stiff frame. Comfort is difficult to measure - each player has a different perception of what feels comfortable. However, players with arm and/or shoulder problems should look at frames with an RA of 66 or less.
An open string pattern will deflect more on impact than a denser pattern, providing greater ball rebound and a higher launch angle. Strung at the same tension (in similar racquets) an open string pattern should feel livelier. In other words, a player will find easier access to depth and pace. Open string patterns also allow the main strings to deflect more and with certain string types the main strings will snap back into position providing more spin. The price one may pay for this, though, is reduced string durability. The increase in string movement results in more abrasion which can cause faster string breakage.
Choosing a tennis racquet is a big decision. You need to make sure you have the right racquet for your skill level now and one that will allow you to improve as a tennis player. Some players may need to find a racquet that helps with power, while others need more control.
For intermediate players who can hit the ball over with consistency, but may not be advanced to accurately control and spin your groundstrokes, you have to find a tennis racquet that is well balanced.
More advanced tennis players have more factors to consider when choosing a tennis racquet. This is where we get into the nuances of the game of tennis. Things like swing length, swing speed, strength, and control become important for this type of player.
Women tennis players typically have better control than men but do not generate as much power or spin. So in general, power and spin are most important when searching for the best ladies tennis racquet for your game.
Ultimately, the best way to make sure you choose the right racquet is to know your own game. If you know the type of player you are, and the type of player you want to be, you can be confident in choosing a tennis racquet that can support those strengths and weaknesses. Whether you want to be highly competitive, or just a recreational player, you should now know how to choose a tennis racquet.
Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of Tennis Tribe. With over two decades of experience playing & coaching tennis, Will now works as a doubles strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. Will helps tennis players at every level play better doubles through smarter strategy. He also has expertise in tennis racquets & gear, testing the latest products from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands.
A good test to see if your child is using the right size racquet is to stand the racquet upside-down on the ground with the handle facing upward. Your child should be able to rest their palm comfortably on the butt cap without bending their arm or tipping their body.
There are hundreds of great tennis racquets on the market, and each has its pros and cons. Everyone has differing physical characteristics and over time develops a unique style of play, which means the best tennis racquet for you might not be the best for anyone else.
There are no set rules for choosing a racquet, though. You should make a choice that feels comfortable for you and makes you feel confident in your game. One of the best ways to learn how different types of racquets change the way you play is by trying as many racquets as you can before committing to one.
When purchasing or evaluating a new tennis racquet, there are a variety of factors that can be helpful to consider, including weight, length, head size, frame stiffness, and materials. Add to that the fact that there are close to 20 major racquet brands to select from, and the choices can become overwhelming quickly.
As a result, these types of tennis racquets are typically great options for beginners who have not yet developed the proper technique, form, and skill to generate power. At this stage, players will tend to have shorter compact strokes, which evolves with time.
Most advanced players will have carefully selected their tennis racquet well before they reach this level. However, intermediate players that are finding success on the court and moving up to an advanced level will want to start to consider a custom tennis racquet.
If possible, work with a tennis pro at your local tennis club. More often then not, they are equipped and experienced in helping players find the right tennis racquet. Furthermore, they can get out on the court with you to understand your style and level of play and thus help you match you with the right racquet.
When working with a tennis pro, remember that not all pros are created equal. Be sure to seek out someone who has the credentials, experience, and is willing to take time to help you find the right racquet.
A reputable pro might start with the racquets their club carries because they have them directly at their disposal but will not limit themselves to these types of racquets if necessary to find the right fit.
The combined answers to these questions would help guide the decision-making process. For example, if there were only minor dislikes of your existing racquet and it felt like your current racquet suited your style of play, then it might make more sense to consider slight modifications to your existing racquet. For example, adjusting the weight/balance with minor tweaks or selecting a different type of tennis string that would give you more power, control, spin, feel, etc.
Hi! My son is 10 years old. He started playing tennis 2 years ago. His racquet is Wilson Roger Federer 25. But its time to change it. Today he tried Head Instinct Graphene Xt Rev Pro. But he wasnt excited. He told that is very difficult to play with it , and that he has pain in the had. Please can you give me some advice , should I buy Wilson again, or it doesnt matter. Which model is good for him , 150cm high. An year ago he brokes his hand and I dont want to supercharge the hand.Sorry for my English!
HiI have a Babolat drive Z lite tennis racquet. First question is that my racquet is tweeter, control or power. And second is that I should buy Babolat pure drive lite or aero pure drive Nadal 2017. I want tweener type racquet for me. 041b061a72