I'm looking for a new tennis racket.... what racket would you recommend ?

Question

OK i said im looking for a NEW tennis racket. That means i already have one and i know to get a tennis one. Duh !!!

Answer 1

Hey It_girl, you're going to find that each person has their own preference for racquets. My preference is Wilson, but I admit that there are other brands that have good sticks as well (I also like Head and Babolot). That said, this is a question that is asked pretty frequently. Here's what I suggest:

RULE #1: Don't buy a racquet before comparing it with others. Most tennis clubs and racquet stores will have some sort of demo program that will let you try out a variety of racquets for a few days for just a couple of bucks. Often, they'll let you put this money towards your futures purchase. If you're having a hard time finding a store that will let you demo a racquet, then check out the website included in the sources.

Racquets come with different stiffness, weighting, stringing patterns and lengths. All that adds up to a lot of different choices and a lot of different feels. If you're a beginner, then you probably don't need to shell out much money yet for a racquet, just find something that feels good in your hand and use it until you want to try something new.

If you have loopy strokes and have no trouble adding your own power to your shots, then you want a racquet that isn't as stiff, and that is head-light--usually termed a control racquet. However, most of the population will find these racquets ill-suited for their skill. With that in mind, I'll mark some rules of thumb below to help you sort out the differences:

1) Stiffness. The stiffer a racquet is, the more power it produces. You mentioned that your racquet isn't controllable. If you mean that you have a hard time keeping the ball in the court, then it's probably because your racquet is too stiff for your style of play.

2) Weight. Heavier racquets are usually less stiff, because they allow you to generate more momentum behind the ball (as an analogy, think of the difference between a hammer and a sledge hammer; if a racquet has more weight to it, it can pack more of a punch). Most players will want a stick that falls in the middle of the pack to the light side.

3) Head-heavy or head-light? Head-heavy racquets are usually those that allow you to generate more momentum (see #2). Pros will play with HH, while recreational will play with HL, because it requires less effort to hit the ball.

4) Stringing patterns. Some racquest have more open stringing patterns while others have more dense patterns. You can judge by looking at how close together the strings are across the racquet face. Different patterns have a different feel and make it easier to apply spin and also give a larger sweet spot. You may want to see if you can find a pattern that feels better with your game.

5) Lengths. Manufacturers make racquets that are an inch and a half longer than normal. These racquets give you more whip to your serves. Some people find them unweildy. I don't like playing with a longer stick, but you may.

6) Feel. Each manufacturer has its own feel. I am a Wilson fan, because I love the feel of the racquet. You feel every aspect of the contact. I don't like Prince's feel, because it feels heavier and more dead to me, but that's just my opinion. Babolat racquets have a similar feel to Wilson. Try a bunch of manufacturers and find one that you like.

Again, demo a bunch of racquets (most sporting goods stores and tennis stores have a demo program; tennis warehouse has an online program that you may want to look into--I've included the link below). Don't buy anything unless you're sure that you like it enough to buy three.

I hope that helps.

Answer 2

I personally prefer Head, but i can't really tell, because every person is diffrerent depending on what type they like, like power, or control. i wouldwant to say that if'n you are willing to spend more money, Head's Flexpoint line of rackets are good. they have different ones focusing on different things. Hope you find a racket for you!

p.s. I know you said you know where to get one, but if you go to Golfsmith, they now have tennis stuff and you can borrow rackets for 5 bucks for like 5 days and just try it out, yes even the expensive ones.
Tennis rules!

Answer 3

Wilson is an awesome brand. It is reliable, comes in many sizes, and is one of THE strongest tennis rackets when it comes to the strings and handles. Trust me, I speak from experience. I've tried Head, Prince, Squash, Babolat, Dunlop, Tecnifibre, Tecnifibre, Wilson, etc. And believe me, Wilson is the absolute BEST!

Answer 4

Go to a good sporting good store and ask for a manager to help yoiu find a good tennis racket.

Answer 5

I play w/ a Prince and love it. Pink strings (like mine) are a must too!! Try the O3 in different colors because they are not all the same... It is also a smart idea to get demos from your local shop to try out many different models. Good luck!!

Answer 6

I love the Wilson W line.

Answer 7

Wilson is usually pretty good. anyway, thats the racket i pretty much always use.

Answer 8

For you I will recommend an O3 White (*Prince) cuz it gives u more power and control!

Answer 9

get a red Prince 03 It has great power and control

Answer 10

what is your current racket? avoid that brand and buy other. life is full of color .. unless you're fully sponsored by them why buying the same again and again ..