How to Buy a Tennis Racquet
Compared to when I first started to play the game with my Jack Kramer wood racquet there now is an overwhelming wealth of options when it comes to buying a tennis racquet. Shopping for a racquet involves more than picking one off a hook and taking a few swings with it at K-Mart. The trade off between most of the variables in a racquet is between power and control.
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Instructions
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Assess your skill level. The game no longer breaks down into A, B and C players. A 1.5 player is new to the game and concentrates on getting the ball in play. At 2.0, you have limited experience, but know the basic positions for singles and doubles. At 2.5, you are starting to anticipate where your opponent will hit the ball and you can sustain a slow-paced rally with other players at your level. At 3.0, you're developing stroke consistency at a medium pace, but have only limited command of various strokes is limited and have difficulty varying your strokes for direction, control, depth or power. You usually play a standard doubles formation, with one up and one back. At 3.5, you've developed medium consistency but lack variety. You move to the net as needed, and you are developing teamwork with your doubles partner. At 4.0, your strokes are dependable on your backhand and your forehand. You can use lobs, approach shots, overheads and can force errors while serving with few double faults. Between 4.5 and 5.5, you've developed into a first-rate amateur player. From 6 to 7 you're playing from the college varsity up to the world class level.
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Choose a retailer is one that will let you try your racquet before you buy. Some stores will let you rent a racquet, and then apply the cost of the rental to your purchase. Mention your rating to the salesperson and explain whether you're primarily a power or afinesse player, and whether you use spins or hack around.
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Choose your material. You'll rarely find racquets made of wood or aluminum. Most are made from composites. Graphite is a common component, strong, stiff and lightweight. You may find titanium mixed in. Boron and kevlar are even stiffer than graphite. The stiffer the racquet, the more energy returns to the ball. Stiffer racquets dampen vibration, stressing your elbow less. Flexible racquets offer less power but more control.
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Consider head size. The bigger the racquet's head, the more power you'll generate with your shots. Bigger racquets also have large sweet spots. Smaller heads offer more control. Head sizes range from under 100 square inches to over 135 square inches. Head shape also affects the size of your racquet's sweet spot. In an oval, the sweet spot is usually located toward the bottom of the racquet. With a tear-drop head, more of the racquet can act as the sweet spot.
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Check the length. Longer racquets give you more leverage. Long racquets measure between 28.5 and 29 inches. Just an inch shorter would make it a standard size. Shorter racquets are easier to handle if you're a smaller player.
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Get a grip. You should be able to insert the width of one finger between each of the fingers of your hand when it is closed around the racquet. Most women will choose a grip width between 4 1/8 and 4 3/8 inches, while men will fit a grip between 4 1/2 and 4 3/4 inches. If a grip is too small, it can twist. If it's too large, you'll have less wrist snap on serves. Either condition can cause tennis elbow.
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Strings are the last variable. If you're a beginner, you'll probably buy a racquet pre-strung with average tension. All racquets have a range of suggested tension. For more power, string the racquet at the lower end of the range. For more control, string it tighter. Thicker strings last longer, while thinner strings offer better ball feel. The gauges run from 15 to 17. The final choice is string material. Natural gut gives the best feel, but it is not vary durable. Synthetic strings last longer.
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