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Step 1
Decide your level. Beginner players should look for a basic, affordable, versatile raquet. Those with oversized heads will have the largest sweet spot and a pre-strung racquet will provide a medium level of strength. As an intermediate player you should consider adapting the racquet to fit your style of play. A smaller, lighter racquet will help a power player and a larger racquet will add some power to a finesse-player's game. Advanced players should look for a composite raquet that will provide greater strength at a low weight, but will cost a bit more.
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Step 2
Determine your style of play. In determining your style of play, and fitting a racquet to that, consider a racquet that complements your style of play rather than augments your strengths. If you have a long swing and hit the ball aggressively, you are a power player and buying a control or finesse racquet will help you improve accuracy. Smaller racquets, in both length and head size, provide more control. Conversely, if you are already a control or finesse-type player, a longer racquet with a large head will improve the power of your swing, while giving up a little accuracy.
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Step 3
Choose a racquet head to fit your style of play. Remember that the bigger the head, the more powerful the shot and the smaller the head the more control you will have. An oversize racquet head is between 110 and 125 square inches. A midsize racquet ranges from 100 square inches to 110. A traditional racquet head is less than 100 inches for more advanced players.
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Step 4
Study the length of your racquet, the distance from the bottom of the handle to the top of the head. In choosing an appropriate length consider both your style of play and your body type. Most popular are long racquets that measure between 28.5 and 29 inches. These create more power, and could help you get to those hard to reach shots, but a smaller player might find them unwieldy. A traditional racquet length is between 27 and 28 inches and will provide a combination of power and control, and will be easier for a smaller player to manage.
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Step 5
Choose the appropriate weight of your racquet. The weight of the racquet affects both power and control. A heavy racquet is more than 11 ounces and provides more power with some control. A mid-weight racquet is between 9.8 ounces and 11 ounces and has a combination of power and control, this is what most players would want. A light racquet is under 9.5 ounces and provides the best possible control, while giving up on some power.
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Step 6
Intermediate and advanced players will want to consider the strings on their racquet. Natural gut strings provide the most consistent feel, but are not durable and will need to be changed frequently. Synthetic strings are more durable and better suited for casual players. The string gauge trades durability for performance. Thicker strings, such as 15 gauge, last longer while thinner strings, such as 16 or 17 gauge offer better performance.
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Step 7
Looking for a racquet's flexibility is something for advanced players to consider. When a racquet flexes, it saps the power of the shot. The stiffer the racquet the more power and the better control on service returns. A flexible racquet offers greater control and makes finesse shots easier. Be aware that different manufacturers have different ways of determining the stiffness of a racquet.
