How to Choose The Right Racquet

HOW TO CHOOSE

THE RIGHT RACQUET

These are not hard and fast rules for buying a tennis racquet as much as they are general guidelines. Like buying a car or a smart phone, sometimes you start shopping and you look at one thing, only to end up buying something completely different. We’ll take a look at the main categories that differentiate one racquet from the next and analyze various pros and cons.

LENGTH

THROAT

GRIP

HEAD

HEAD SIZE

At one point in time, racquet head sizes ranged 85-94 95-105 106 - 118 from about 85 square inches all the way to 135

MID MIDPLUS OVERSIZE square inches. These days, the vast majority of racquets are in the 97 to 105-square-inch range.

Larger Head size = Greater Power and More Stability. Experts have different theories as to why this

Smaller Head size = Smaller Sweet Spot and has happened, but we believe it is because the

More Nimble. average player is looking for the best balance of forgiveness, maneuverability, and stability. Provided your swing speed is the same with both, a larger racquet head will produce more power than a smaller racquet head. For example a 95’’ racquet head will produce much less pop than a 110’’ .

STRING PATTERN

This refers to the number of main (up and down) strings and the number of cross (side to side) strings. The most common patterns are 16×18, 16×19, 16×20, and 18×20. You will hear debates about “dense pattern” versus “open pattern” racquets. Dense refers to very small spaces between the strings, while an open pattern has more separation between the strings. A good way to remember is More strings (dense pattern) = More control. Less strings (open pattern) = More power and spin.

Open Pattern Dense Pattern 16x19 (or less) 18x20

• More power • More spin • Slightly less durability • More control • Added durability • Less trampoline effect

Over the years, racquets have shifted away - 10 oz 10-11 oz 12 oz+ from the 12+ ounce variety and have found • More Head heavy • Less maneuverability a median weight around 10 – 11.5 ounces. • Least stability • Heavier swing weight Again, this is in pursuit of the best combo of forgiveness, maneuverability, and stability. Please note: racquet weight cannot be easily reduced. Lighter is not always better, but neither is heavier. Imagine Juan Martin Del Potro blasting a forehand cross court at 102 MPH and trying to return it with a sub 8 ounce racquet. It doesn’t take a physics degree to know that is not going to go well.The best choice is a racquet that is stable enough to handle pace, but light enough for you to still get your racquet moving in time to strike the ball.

FLEX (STIFFNESS)

This generally refers to a racquet’s “feel”. This one is a little tough because much of “feel” is personal preference. A more flexible racquet feels like the ball is staying on the strings longer (we are talking nano-seconds). Benefits to highly flexible frames include shock absorption, increased control and better comfort. Usually racquets with thinner beams (20-22mm) will be more flexible frames, and racquets with thicker beams will have be a firmer “feel”. Stiffer racquets will not flex much, and are often described as crisp and solid. A stiff racquet will also transmit more shock to the arm than a more flexible one. On our website you will see an RA (stiffness rating) for every racquet sold at Tennis Express. Racquets around the 70 RA and up will be quite firm, and racquets from 60-65 (and lower) RA will be softer and more flexible. Racquet stiffness will decrease slightly over time, but you can’t change a racquet’s stiffness.

45 - Flexible 75 - Firm

• More control • More power • More flexible • Transmits more • Comfortable feel vibration to wrist

SWING WEIGHT

This describes how much effort is required to swing the racquet. Players like Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have very high swing weights, well above 350! Most racquets fit in the 300-330 range. The higher the number, the more cumbersome it is to get moving. While a racquet’s swing weight can be increased through customization, it cannot be reduced, so be thoughtful about how comfortable you are with the swing weight before purchasing. Buying Tip: Racquets longer than 27 inches (standard) will have an increase in swing weight, so if you want a longer length it will feel heavier.

290 295-325 330+

• Easier to Swing • Harder to Swing

RACQUET LENGTH

GRIP SIZE

When you pick up a racquet for the first time, without even swinging it you will begin to notice its balance. Imagine a baseball bat or hammer. These are extreme examples of a head-heavy

Head Heavy balance. Now grab the hammer at the head, and

Increases Stability and Momentum note all of the weight is now in your hand. This is an example of a head-light balance. A household item like a broom or a rake has a fairly even balance. A head-light racquet is easy to move quickly and is a great option for players who spend most of their time up at the net. Conversely, the headheavy balance is more cumbersome at the net, but provides a little more help from the back of the court (where you have additional reaction time). Superlight racquets are often slanted towards head heavy to get power, whereas middle-weight or heavy racquets are more evenly balanced or head-light for maneuverability.

Head LigHt

Adds Maneuverability

> 27” 27” < 27” Most adult tennis racquets are 27 inches (68.58

More Speed cm) long. Racquet length cannot be increased*

Less Stability and though it can be decreased, this will substantially change the balance. If you are interested in modifications to length, ask one of our USRSA Master Racquet Technicians at Tennis Express. The maximum length for a racquet is 29 inches but because they are so hard to maneuver you won’t see many of them. The most common “longer” racquet is probably in the 27.2-27.6 inch range. They provide a little bit more reach without being impossible to wield. As for the Red, Orange and Green ball divisions, 23’’ is the max length for Red ball, 25’’ is the max length for orange ball, and 27’’ is the max length for green ball.

Good Stability Easy Mobility More Power Heavier weight

Find your ideal size by measuring the distance between your palm’s middle crease to the tip of your ring finger.

Typical adult grip sizes run from 4 1/8” to 4 5/8” with 4 3/8” being the most popular. Remember, you can always apply an overgrip, so shoot small if you’re in between sizes. Most racquets come with a black or white synthetic grip built for comfort. You can purchase a different thickness of grip if you want to feel the bevels a little bit more or increase the size. Some players enjoy the feedback of the old-school leather grip despite its rather firm feel. Leather grips are also thinner and heavier (by several grams) than synthetic grips, so they are a good way to increase the racquet’s weight if you so desire.

Remember this is the “Golden Age of the Demo” and you can try just about any racquet under the sun with the Tennis Express Demo program. Don’t be afraid to try a few frames out before making your purchase!