The Racquet Racket
Jul 07 '01 (Updated Jul 16 '01)
The Bottom Line Here's a guide to picking a racquet that walks you through important factors. Choosing the right tool helps get the job done!
Improve your game without practicing! Beat opponents you never beat before! Gain greater power and control! Can racquets really do this for you? Or is it a racquet racket that's out to hype you into buying? What important factors would it be a good idea to look for in a racquet?
Stiffness or Flexibility
Stiffer racquets generally give more power. Make sure the power, however, is controllable. Tennis is all about controlled power.
More flexible racquets usually have less vibration and are thus easier on the elbow. This is especially important if your arm has given you trouble before.
As a side note, see which vibration dampening devices work for your racquet, regardless of how stiff or flexible it is. Agassi uses a homemade aid (rubber band) but there are plenty of vibration absorbers out there.
Stability
Generally, one wants a stable racquet. The more stable, the better generally. Stable racquets don't twist much on off-center hits. So off-center strokes would have a better chance of not scattering out of control.
Control
Control is crucial because most games are lost rather than won. If you can't keep it in play, guess what?: you lose.
Sometimes, racquets have greater control at the expense of power. Extra power, however, is self-destructive if it is not under consistent control.
The "feel" of a racquet can be important in controlling. If it doesn't have a feel that is supple and smooth, the chances are it will make your shots wilder and less manageable.
Remember, most games are lost rather than won. This is especially true before one hits the upper echelons of the sport.
Power
Tired of your opponents constantly running down your shots? Perhaps you need a racquet with more power.
Simply put, you can hit the ball harder with such a racquet. This may mean more aces, winners by you, and forced errors by your opponents. Make sure, however, that your own unforced error count doesn't soar out of control.
If you're able to simply overpower your opponents with the power in the racquet (and your strokes), then it can be worth some extra unforced errors. An overwhelmed opponent is typically not too tough to beat.
Weight
If you are a baseliner, weight can work for you o.k. If you are a volleyer, a lighter racquet may be a better call. Volleys require greater maneuverability. Baseline groundstrokes usually don't require as much quickness and can benefit in power and stability from a well-made, heavier racquet.
Generally, over 12 ounces is considered a heavier racquet. Under 10 ounces is considered a lighter racquet.
Prescription
While a racquet won't fix poor stroke technique/mechanics, it can lift your game considerably. Just think of when Bjorn Borg tried to make a comeback with his wooden racquet...it was pathetic.
Another idea: consider finding a pro player that you want to model your game after. If it's good enough for him/her, it'll probably be good enough for you.
Magazines like "Tennis" also featured racquet reviews. This can be an initial, helpful filter. This can help you find your "candidate" racquets that make the finals.
Lastly, it's advisable to "demo" (try out) a number of candidate racquets before settling on your choice. If you evaluate using these criteria, you'll be well on your way to making a good decision. That way, you'll avoid the racquet racket and actually pick a racquet that can significantly raise your level of play. Have fun doing it!
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