Whether you’ve just started playing tennis or you’re a more experienced one, having a good tennis racket is one of the basic, essential pieces of equipment you’ll need to start practicing this kind of sport. There is a huge selection of tennis rackets on the market today, so you may get overwhelmed as to which one would make the best use for your needs. But have you ever questioned yourself how do you choose the right kind of tennis racket?
To help you simplify the process of your selection we’ve laid out for you some of the most important features to look out for before making your purchase. From choosing the right head size and balance of the racket to selecting the right weight, type, and style of playing, we’ve narrowed down all the important factors you need to consider that will help you narrow down your choice and choose the right tennis racket that will optimize your performance.
Features to Consider Before Purchasing a Tennis Racket
Choose the Right Head Size and Length
Among the most important aspects is considering the right head length and size of the racket. Tennis rackets usually fall into three different kinds of categories depending on their size, including mid-size, mid-plus, and oversized. Adult tennis rackets usually range from 69 to 73 centimeters in length, with 73cm being the maximum allowed length size for competition. The oversized or the larger one is more suitable for beginners and intermediate players who are seeking more power and a larger sweet spot.
Moreover, they are more forgiving if the hit is not perfectly placed in the center of the racket, but they are usually harder to be maneuvered and therefore deliver less control. On the other hand, small heads have better maneuverability and precision which makes them best suited for expert players.
Consider the Racquet Weight and Balance
The weight of the tennis racket is usually measured, in grams. Most of the rackets available on the market today feature between 227 and 369 grams of weight. Lighter rackets are more suitable for professionals, as they allow more maneuverability, but aren’t as stable when you hit the ball. Therefore they allow for better physical endurance on the terrain. As you become more skilled you may decide to start using heavier weight rackets. Heavier racquets for tennis can give more control on the terrain but will provide additional strain to your arm and wrist and make you fatigued much quicker.
The balance point of a tennis racquet is usually determined by whether its weight is distributed more toward the head or the handle. The balance point of most types of rackets is often measured in millimeters. When talking about balance, most tennis rackets are divided into three categories, head heavy, head-light, and even. While the balance point of most types of rackets is below 343mm, it’s worth knowing how they differ from each other.
The racquets that have the center of their mass shifted towards the handle are known as head-light. This feature improves maneuverability by keeping most of the weight in your hand, and in general, gives the player more control. The head-heavy rackets for tennis have their center of gravity shifted slightly towards the tip of the racquet. And the evenly balanced racquet would have its balance point exactly in the middle of its length which is between 330mm and 350 mm.
Choose the Right Grip Size
The grip size is determined by the size of your hands which additionally dictates which size grip should be used for the most comfortable fit and the prevention of any type of injuries. For instance, if the grip is too large it can cause excess stress on your arm muscles, while if it’s too small it can lead to injury from over gripping.
There are two ways you can measure your grip size, and you can roughly figure it out by holding a racket in your forehand grip. If the racket is of the correct size, the distance between your palm and longest finger should approximately be the width of a finger. However, if the grip is too small, it usually means that you will probably need a larger grip size.
Choose the Right Type of Racket and your Style of Play
As with any kind of sport, it isn’t enough to just show natural inclinations and talent for something, or have unwavering determination to master it, but you also need to have the right means and proper equipment to attain your goals. In this particular case, using the right kind of racquet can make a huge difference as it will help you reach a higher level of skills and increase your overall performance on the court as well.
Now that you have an idea of some of the basic features you need to be on the lookout for, you can use this knowledge to your advantage and choose the right type of tennis racquet that best suits your needs and type of play. They are usually grouped into five different categories based on their characteristics including, inexpensive pre-strung rackets, control rackets, powerful rackets, lightweight power rackets, modern racquets adn tweener rackets. Which style you choose to buy is usually dependent on the level of your skill you’ve already riched in this type of sport and your individual playing style.
Besides, all the above-mentioned features, taking into account your individual physique, skill level and type of play is another crucial factor that plays a major role in choosing the right kind of racket for your needs. Basically, you can have a fast, slow, or average speed swing.
Popular Racquet Brands
Now that we explained the most important factors you need to consider, we’ve decided to give you a recommendation on some of the best brands of rackets for tennis availble on the market today. Let’s have a look at each one we’ve chosen separately and consider some of their best features.
Wilson Racquets
Willson is considered one of the best brands for producing premium quality rackets for tennis. These types of racquets come in a variety of had sizes and string patterns, which means they are versatile enough to offer something to every ability level.
They provide a great combination of power, control, and touch, being loaded with precision and feel which can be seen in their premium performance and sleek design. Even though this brand has plenty of competition in the marketplace, its longevity, ability to sign big names, and quality make it stand out from the rest of the big brands. Some of the past tennis players who used Wilson racquets are Pete Sampras, Gaston Gaudio, Justine Henin, Stefan Edberg, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Jim Courier, & Steffi Graff.
Head Racquets
Most types of Head rackets are modern and dynamic featuring a teardrop-shaped head, and an 18/20 string pattern that provides the control required by tournament players. Thanks to the many technological innovations used in these types of Hand tennis rackets they have given some of the worlds’ top players an advantage to dominate all other players in the field. They have been seen in the hands of some of the best tennis players hands from Andre Agassi and Andy Murray, to the current No.1 ranked Novak Djokovic.
Yonex
Yonex is a prominent Asian racquet brand that has become increasingly popular in recent years. This company first started with the manufacturing of badminton racquets and in 1969 it began to produce many types of tennis rackets as well. These rackets feature a very spin-friendly design and controllable features that can suit every play style and level. Its combination of power, spin, and maneuverability are perfect for players with an aggressive style of play. This brand now offers 5 different lines of racquet including Ezone, VCore Pro, VCore, Astrel, adn Junior. Most types of Yonex rackets’ prices range from $169 to $239.
