Choosing the right tennis racket for your game

Choosing the right tennis racquet may be a rather daunting task with the endless array of options available in the market today. Before you go out to the shops to hand-over your hard-earned cash, here are some tips to help you in your quest for the perfect tennis equipment.

Weight of the tennis racquet: The lighter the better?

A weight comparison between racquets is usually the first exercise an individual conducts when purchasing a racket. A lighter racquet is not better than a heavier one. Here are some points to consider:

1. Characteristics of light racquets:

• Usually weighs between 9 – 9.4 ounces (Approximately 255 to 270 grams)
• Generally provide for easier control
• Generates less power

• Usually weighs between 9.8 to 10.9 ounces (Approximately 280 to 310 grams)
• Provides a combination of power and control

• Usually weighs more than 11 ounces (Approximately 330 grams)
• Provides more power in shots
• Helps to maintain control over a player’s swing

• A racquet is head heavy if the majority of its weight is in its head
• A head heavy racquet produces more power as the higher mass at the head of the racquet enables a racquet to be swung with greater momentum than a head light racquet
• A head heavy racquet is usually favoured by players who generally favour baseline shots
• Smaller players who require additional power boost in their shots also tend to favour head heavy racquets
• In general a head heavy racquet paired with a light racquet frame is more suitable for beginners and smaller built players as such a racquet is easy to swing and assists the player in generating power in their shot

• A racquet is grip heavy/head light when the majority of its weight is in its grip
• A grip heavy/head light racquet provides increased manoeuvrability and increased control over a shot
• Generally such racquets are favoured by net and volley players
• Grip heavy/Head light racquets are generally more suited for advanced players who are able to generate power and spin in a shot

• Measures between 106 square inches and 135 square inches
• Large sweet spot, therefore a more forgiving racquet
• Generates the most power and spin in a shot
• Usually favoured by smaller sized players and beginners

• 95 to 106 square inches
• Moderately sized sweet spot
• Balance of power and control
• Usually favoured by intermediate players

• Racquet head size below 95 square inches
• Small sweet spot
• Provides a player with more control and less power
• Usually favoured by advanced players

Grip Size: The neglected consideration

The most commonly neglected consideration and ironically the most import one, is grip size. Choosing a racquet with the wrong tennis grip size will not only affect your performance but will also cause injury (Etc: Tennis elbow).

The most common method to measure your grip size is to hold your master hand out flat with your fingers alongside each other and measure the distance between the middle crease of your palm and the tip of your ring finger as seen in the picture below.

Image credit: tennis.about.com

The grip sizes most common for women will usually be between 4 1/8” to 4 3.8”, for most men between 4 3/8” to 4 5/8” and juniors will usually measure less than 4”.

Beam Width of a tennis racquet: Thick or Thin?

The Beam of a racquet is the area of a racket on either side of its head. In generally the thicker the beam the more power the racket will generate.

Image credit: www.tennis101.com

Tennis Racquet Length: Longer is better?

• Lighter weight racquets
• Head heavy: Power oriented racquets
• Oversized size racquet head

• Moderate weight racquets
• Head heavy (if the player is small in stature) or Grip Heavy (if the player is athletically built)
• Mid Plus size racquet head

• Heavier weight racquets
• Grip heavy/head light: Control oriented racquets
• Mid size racquet head

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