Do you have different racquets for doubles and singles?

Question

Do you think it makes sense to have different racquets for doubles and for singles? Do you use different racquets, or always play with the same type? Why?

Answer 1

Well, I use the same kind of racket for singles and doubles, the Wilson [K] Blade 93. I have four, so I just add lead tape to the rackets when I play singles. This is so I can have more power packed into my shots.

When I play doubles, I take the lead tape out so I can move my racket around more. I usually volley when I play doubles, so I need to be able to move my racket on short notice.

It was a trick taught to me by my dad. Practically everyone back in the stone age used lead tape on their wooden rackets.

Answer 2

I don't necessarily change for singles, or doubles... but I do change rackets depending on my competitors.

I have my "power," racket and my "control," racket.  If I'm playing a weaker opponent I usually will try to "overpower," them.  That doesn't work against better players who hang at the baseline, so I use my "control," racket.

Answer 3

even in singles professional players have several racquets. it's the preference of individual player. unlike in life, you got a different mother-in-law in a different house if you got 2 wives.

Answer 4

Personally I would play with the same racket, the only reason I could see you switching rackets is if you usually like a very heavy racket for singles. Then you would probably want to switch rackets for doubles because you need to be able to hit shots quickly and a lighter racket is best for that. But again, only if your singles racket is overly heavy, and most of the common rackets are fine.

The reason you would probably want the same racket for both is because each racket has a different feel. When I test out new rackets, it can take up to 20 mins for me to fully get used to how I have to swing differently than the racket I currently use to get the same result. In some tournaments you have to play doubles the next day (or sometimes the same), using two rackets would probably be somewhat annoying.

On my tennis team (and yes its a pretty good HS, 6th place in State (Illinois) this year), nobody used different rackets for singles and doubles. Instead, we all had several backups of the same racket just incase our strings broke

Hope this helps!