Tennis players!!!!?

Question

My 12 year old son is just learning to play tennis...we have a senior at Baylor University who is giving him lessons during the summer...and he is going to start to play in a very entry level tournament in the area, starting next week. We are hoping he will be good enought to make the jr high tennis team at the end of the 2008-09 school year. Could you recommend what kind of racquet he REALLY needs...not his dream racquet....but a suitable beginners'? his coach did tell us his grip was a 4 ' 3/8"...but help me out on everything else! I looked at the local sports store and they can get awfully pricey...please share your sensible advice. Thank you.

Answer 1

One of the most best-selling racquets is the Wilson Ncode Ntour racquet. It is light and easy to use.  The value is great, partly because it is a discontinued model.  I think it would be perfect for your 12 year old.  You can buy it at www.holabirdsports.com below, prestrung, and with free shipping.  Its a great deal.

Answer 2

You can get top of the line raquets for cheap (relatively cheap $60-$100) if you get the ones that are the discontinued models. What the pro plays with today might cost you 150-200. What he played with a year or two ago 60-100. And you can still get them new.

If that's still too much, go a little cheaper. The important thing is that at this stage the raquet is not that important. He has to learn what he's doing first. Set a price and let him pick something out. Does he need a Ferrari before he learns how to drive? Of course not. Go on line as well as the stores and you can find lots of stuff. Also some mom and pop type places have slightly used stuff.

Last but not least with summer coming up, a little work experience to earn the big money raquet might not be the worst thing in the world.

Answer 3

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a racket, but since you and your son are new to the sport, I would not recommend that you buy an expensive one.

Here's a link that teaches beginners and other tennis player what to consider for their game. it will tell you what a specific trait of a racket will do or not do for you:

   http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/gear/gene...

Answer 4

Well... If he is just starting out I wouldn't waste hundreds of bucks on a specialized super duper babolat or something along the line. Go to d**k's Sporting Goods or Sports Authority and purchase a begginer racket for $25-$75. When he gets good, that is when you should go out and spend more money.

Answer 5

FOOTBALL PLAYERS!!!!

Oh . . . we're not giving shout-outs to various sports?

My bad!  ;)

Seriously, though, nobody but your son can tell what a "good" racquet is for him. Give the same racquet to two different people with similar playing abilities, and you shouldn't be surprised that one won't like it.

IMHO, the grip is the single most important part of the tennis racquet, just as, for bowling, the fit of the holes is far more important than the weight of the ball,  contrary to popular belief. The "feel" of the racquet is far more important than any particular manufacturer or model. Anything else is a matter of the player's abilities, style, stamina, strength, etc, not to mention your bank account! (BRAVO to the coach!!! He/she is a keeper!!!)

Beyond that, the only advice I can give is to not pressure your son (I noticed you said, "WE are hoping...", as opposed to, "HE is hoping"). Tennis is a fun game for everyone for a lifetime; don't spoil it for him!

Answer 6

you can buy a really good racquet on ebay....Prince makes a great racquet....as well as Wilson and Head.  The Prince Beast is a good beginner racquet.  Just make sure the grip fits his hand.  Most of those racquets mentioned above cost at least $100 if they are new.  You can get a discontinued racquet for next to nothing.  As your local sports store to demo a racquet...when you find one he likes, go to ebay and get it real cheap (used but cheap).

If he is really into the sport, he will do well....lots of practice, practice practice....

Answer 7

4 3/8 is the most used grip size in tennis. Every sports store carries frames in it and most Tennis Stores like The Golf & Tennis Co. in Royal Oak that has a hitting lane set up with a ball machine have hundreds of frames all in 3/8 grip size for people to demo prior to buying. If such a facility exists near you will be up to you to research or call around and find out. If not then I would suggest that you take advantage of the Tenniswarehouse Demo Program.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/demoprog...

www.tenniswarehouse.com allows you to have up to 4 frames shipped to you for one week for you to demo and then simply ship back. All it costs you is shipping. I would pick 95 or 100 square inch frames as a 90 would be too demanding for his skill level and a 105 or larger would make him too lazy and perhaps not develop quick enough. You don't want to put a weak baby racquet in his hand he's in HighSchool and the guys will tease him out of tennis. Don't put too demanding of a players frame into them either or else he will play poorly and give up.

If you wanna go cheaper and make sure he enjoys playing then check out the liquidation page...

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/liquidat...

the Head Liquidmetal 4 is nice, the Dunlop McEnroe is very nice, and the Dunlop MFil 200 as well and they are all $69 ...very reasonable. My nephews play with Wilson one has the Ntour 95 and the other has Htour 95 the older model.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage...

They have both been playing for 2 years now and love the racquets despite being for players at the 4.0 level or higher. They have grown into them and are hitting well. I would recommend getting him one of them. You can pick one up new off ebay for under $50 or at a store for $75 such as Holabirds on line.

If you want cheaper still check out the demos listed below them. You might be able to pick up something for like $50 but be sure that:

it is 27 inches in length or 27.25 not longer. The longer frames tend to be heavier in your hand after a while and even though they do add more torque on serves can cause injury. He should learn how to play with regulation size.

has a head size in the 95 - 102 range no bigger. Bigger means more power less control and smaller means less power and more control but in the hands of an intermediate would be pointless. Let him develop proper strokes first.

has a grip size that he is comfortable with. A 4 1/4 can be built up easy enough with 2 overwraps on it but he may get teased for using a girls grip. But it would allow more spin to be put on his strokes. Don't get a 4 1/2 since to shave it down or replace pallets would be a pain. Get the right size to begin with so 3/8 if that is his proper size.

Hope this helps.

Oh and before you buy check Ebay you might see the one you want there for much less. Just a thought. I get most of my frames off ebay or atleast used to.