There are a lot of things to understand before choosing your racket, and in the following section we will do our best to help you understand them and how they relate to your game.
The first thing to know is that rackets fall into 3 categories.
These are Power, Mid Power and Control.
PowerThis is the term used by racket manufacturers for power-oriented rackets. These rackets can be oversize, are lightweight (8-9.5 ounces), can be longer (27-29 inches), are stiffer and are balanced head-heavy to keep enough weight in the hitting zone. Designed for players with shorter, slower swings and who want more power from the racket.
Mid PowerThese are rackets that offer a blend of features for club standard to pro level players. They are often mid weight(9.5-11 ounces), balanced anywhere from slightly head-light to slightly head-heavy, have midplus (98-105 square inches) heads.
These rackets would have elements of both power and control rackets, in so far as they would be heavier than power rackets and stiffer than control rackets.
ControlThese rackets would be generally used by professional and high-level club players.
But not exclusively, they also suit people who swing the racket fast. These models are typically heavier in weight (11.5-13+ ounces), have smaller heads (88-98 square inch heads), are thinner, are more flexible beams and are more evenly balanced to retain manoeuverability. The result is a low-power racket, designed for players who provide their own power and prefer a racket that offers more control.
This next section covers the various features of a racket and how they affect the playability of the racket.
Head sizePower is directly related to head size - a larger head will provide more power than a smaller head, all other things being equal. A larger head also offers a larger hitting area and sweet spot, providing more forgiveness on off-centre hits.
All power rackets aren’t oversize though.
Players who have fast swing speeds should not use oversize rackets as they will lose all elements of control.
Weight and balanceThese two characteristics most influence how a racket feels when you pick it up and when you swing it on the tennis court.
Lighter rackets are more manoeuvrable and suit someone who doesn’t have the fastest swing. Lighter rackets tend to have the weight more in the head of the racket. These 2 factors are what give lightweight rackets their power.
Heavier rackets would be classed as rackets with a greater element of control. Generally the person that uses this type of racket is a person who hits the ball hard (swings the racket fast). The weight of the racket slows your swing down thus giving you more control.
Frame stiffnessYou could go into a lot of technical detail here about transferring of energy, and a lot of other jargon but it really is quite straightforward.
A stiffer racket is more powerful because with less flex in the frame the ball comes off it quicker. Remember though stiff rackets are less forgiving.
A more flexible racket is less powerful but because the frame flexes on impact it keeps the ball on the racket a split second longer giving you more time to direct it to where you want to go. Therefore giving you more control.
Grip sizeThe right grip size makes a huge difference in how a racket performs. If you're not sure of your grip size, here are two simple ways to measure:
Holding an eastern forehand grip (the palm is placed against the same bevel as the string face), you should be able to fit the index finger of your non-hitting hand in the space between your ring finger and palm.
If there isn't enough room for your index finger, the grip is too small.
If there is space between your finger and palm, the grip is too big.
A too-small grip requires more muscle strength to keep the racket from twisting in your hand. Prolonged use of a grip that's too small can contribute to tennis elbow problems.
A grip that's too large inhibits wrist snap on serves, makes changing grips more difficult and also requires more muscle strength. Prolonged use of a grip that's too big can also contribute to tennis elbow problems.
Everybody fits into 2 grip sizes, the best advice I can give is go for the one that is most comfortable, but if you are still unsure you are better off going for the smaller grip as this can be built up afterwards, whereas we can’t make a bigger grip smaller!
