What does NTRP 4.5–7.0 mean for a tennis racquet?

Question

http://www.tennis.com/yourgame/gear/racquets/babolat/babolat.aspx?id=655

here is a link of the racquet and what do people think of this racquet generally.

i want something which moves quick through the air and not too much on the wrist and good for spin any recommendations ?

Answer 1

It means that the racquet is recommended for advanced players who generally supply their own power, through good stroke mechanics.  I would suggest you demo a few racquets from tennis-warehouse.com before you commit to buying one.  This racquet is a good one, but you might also want to try a few Prince O3 Speedport racquets.  There are a lot of variables when it comes to picking a racquet.  It depends on how good you are, what your strokes are like, and how heavy a racquet you can handle.  A heavy racquet can actually be good for tennis elbow, since it absorbs more impact.  Good luck!

Answer 2

This is a really good racket for hard hitters that like to use a lot of spin. Since it is head light, this means you will be able to move the racket through the air easier and hit the ball faster with more accuracy. If you've seen Rafael Nadal play, you know he uses a TON of spin.. and he endorses this racket. It won't be any problem for your wrist since it's not a heavy racket, the technology used prevents tennis elbow and any arm pain. And if you try a cheap shock absorber on it, there will be almost no chance of any arm pain what-so-ever.

Answer 3

NTRP is the National Tennis Rating Program. It rates your tennis skill level on a scale from 1.5 (complete beginner) to 7.0 (world class athlete i.e. Federer, Nadal etc).

You want you racquet to match your skill level so manufacturers typically put each racquet into brackets like you are suggesting (4.5-7.0). Using a racquet that is either too high or low for your NTRP can really hurt your game. So if you are a 3.0 using a 1.5 or a 7 will dramatically change the outcome of your stroke.

The Babolat is great but if you don't know what NTRP is I'm guessing it's pretty out of your league (not saying that insultingly). I'll provide you a link where you can generally gauge your NTRP.

Without knowing your skill level it's hard to recommend a racquet but in general terms if you are looking for spin you want a lighter racquet (<11.5oz), 27in in length, a less stiff frame and a more open string pattern (like 16x19 as opposed to 18x20).