How to Choose a Tennis Racquet for Beginners
An improper racquet will derail your tennis game soon after you decide to take it up. If you can't get the ball over the net or hit the ball with power, you're not going to derive much enjoyment out of the game. When it comes to buying a racquet, though, the possibilities are endless. Between grip, head size, length and construction, you may be daunted by the choices. As a beginner, though, you narrow your selection by focusing on the specifications that will help you improve your game.
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Instructions
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Price your racquet. A beginner's racquet usually should cost up to $30 (as of 2011). These are usually aluminum, pre-strung, and available at big box stores or major sporting goods stores. Advanced players usually prefer graphite racquets, but these cost more. There's no need to spend $100 and up for a beginner's racquet until you've mastered the basics and decided if this is a sport right for you.
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Find the right-sized racquet. For an adult (or child over 5-foot-2), the racquet should be 28.5 to 29.5 inches long and weigh between 9.8 oz. and 10.9 oz. These mid-weight racquets offer a good blend of power and control for beginners. The longer racquet length will provide more power and allow you to cover more of the court. Grip size is important as well and will take some "hands-on" testing to find a grip that is comfortable and won't create shooting pains in your elbow after an hour or so of practicing your swing. An ideal grip size for a beginner is 4 1/8 inches to 4 5/8 inches.
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Consider the size of the racquet head. Racquets with a larger head provide extra power, helping beginners get the ball over the net. "Oversized" heads are 107 square inches to 125 square inches, compared to 90 to 97 square inches for standard racquets for advanced players. The larger head provides a bigger "sweet spot," allowing beginners to concentrate on perfecting their swing.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're taking tennis lessons, ask your instructor for recommendations.
Do some comparison shopping before you buy.
A famous label doesn't insure a better product.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
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Comments
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prism
Jan 10, 2009
Great information. I've been wanting to get a racket for my son and had no clue what to look for. Thanks! -
Wasatch
Dec 20, 2008
Great tips. As a kid my folks bought a few yard sell rackets. We used those until they saw we were dedicated enough to use a quality racket. Good tips.
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jonandshan
Dec 20, 2008
I love tennis and can't wait to get my daughter involved. Great article!
