How do I choose a Tennis Racquet !?

Question

Well I've seen the other questions which are similar but I was wondering how I choose one based on my skills so far.

Im in high school I'm around 5'5" weighing 138. I love spinning the ball and Im a senior in high school. We just lost to Jesuit high school 8-1 and my racquet according to coach is not up to my skill level.

The only match to win was me and my doubles partner at #3 doubles. So I think you can get a little idea of how good I am. Sorry No videos. Lets just say Im not a beginner anymore even though in the span of 4-5 months I Improved ALOT according to the coach and the players on the team.

Answer 1

I like your approach to this.  Anybody who asks "what racquet should I buy?" should be asking it your way, instead.  

First, I'll tell you that height and weight and such don't matter so much in racquet choice.  I was 13 or 14 (less than 100 lbs) when I first got a 12 oz. racquet, which is about as heavy as you can get without modifying.  I wouldn't say that that's always the way to go, but it worked for me.

I usually recommend getting as heavy a racquet as you can handle.  This will give you as much control as possible.  But don't go so heavy that the racquet doesn't feel responsive.  Basically, start demoing some racquets of various weights.  Try something around 11 oz first.  If you think you can go heavier, move up to about 11.5.  Repeat the process.  Eventually, you'll find that the racquet seems to lack power.  That means the racquet is a little too heavy, so back off on the weight a little.

Weight isn't the only thing to look at, though.  As far as headsize, that will depend on how consistent you are.  If you have very consistent strokes, you will be able to manage a smaller head.  Just be aware that the smaller the head, the more control (and less power) the racquet has.  If you aren't so consistent, go with something a little larger.  But I wouldn't recommend looking at anything over 105 sq.in.

Last thing to worry about is balance.  Head-heavy racquets are good for powerful baseliners, but not so good for net play.  Since you are playing doubles, you'll probably want something a little more maneuverable.  That means you should look for a head-light racquet.  It's also easier to create spin with a head-light racquet.

There's really no exact science here, though.  It's just trial and error.  If you don't mind paying for shipping, you can demo racquets from tenniswarehouse.com.  You can demo up to 4 at a time, and keep them for a week. Other than that, you should be able to go to a local pro-shop/club and demo some racquets there for free.  You might have to pay for court time if they don't let you take them out of the building.  You are just looking for the racquet that feels best to you.

And when you do have the right racquet for you, don't expect an immediate difference.  It will take some time to get used to a new racquet.  But once you are used to it, you will probably see yourself improving quickly, since you are using a better racquet.

Answer 2

youch it XD

Answer 3

It sounds like you might have an oversized racquet, that is probably very light, or head heavy.  The more advanced racquets have a smaller head size, are a bit heavier, and are usually head-light.  These more advanced racquets require a higher skill level to wield, since they supply less power - the power comes more from your swing.  Beginners with less developed strokes tend to block the ball more or have shorter swings.  Beginners also don't have the hand-eye coordination to consistently hit the sweet spot of the racquet, so have an easier time with a bigger headsize.  Check out tennis shops in your area to see if they have a good demo program. We have one in Mountain View, CA that lets you demo a racquet a week for up to 4 months, for $40, that will go towards your racquet purchase if you buy from them.  If there isn't a good demo program in your area you can demo some racquets from tennis-warehouse.com.  You might like a racquet like the  Wilson Nblade or the Kblade 98.  You could also try the Prince O3 Tour MP or the Babolat Pure Drive Cortex.  You could even go with a smaller head size and heavier racquet like the K-factor Ksix-one 95 or the Prince O3 Tour MS.  Any of these racquets are worthy of an intermediate or advanced player.  Next, you need to do a little research on strings and shoes! Good luck!

Answer 4

You were wondering how to chose a racket, the best way to chose one is to go to your local tennis store and demo all the rackets you can. If you can't do that, then borrow a friend's and try out a lot of different ones.

Personally, I go for Babolat... the AeroPro. It works for everyone I know (including myself...I love it!) I'd been searching for a racket for the longest time,  I demoed every racket out there, and this is what I liked the best.

Answer 5

First, you should have a style of play that is similar to one of the men/women on the ATP/WTA tour.  You have to watch them to see which one that is.  When you have discovered that, use the same racquet, grip, and tension that he/she does.  You can fnd that information out online.  Just search the player's name racquet tension.  If it works for him/her on the pro tour, it should definitely work for you in interscholastic play.  Not to mention the strategic tips you will gain by watch him/her play an entire match.

Answer 6

there's a simple but useful tool to help you choose a suitable racquet. consult your coach regarding your NTRP rating. then browse through tennis-warehouse.com for game-improvement racquets and each time you are interested in one particular racquet, see if it fits players with certain NTRP level. they also allow you to demo the racquet before buying. keep in mind that game-improvement racquets are not necessarily gets heavier than your current racquet. the right weighted racquet for you is the one with which you can still perform at your best. the racquets are also not necessarily have smaller headsize. if you can perform your best topspin forehand stroke with an oversized racquet, so be it. no use picking up a midplus racquet if it limits your performance. for more tips on selecting the right racquet for you, go to the tennis-warehouse.com website. hope it helps :)