For players who want to be successful, the answer to the question of “How to choose the right tennis racket?” is crucial. How well the racket matches the player will determine how much play you have, how comfortable you are, and how many injuries you sustain.
To get the best out of your training and matches, you need to know what you should look at when choosing the right tennis racket.
Since the days of wooden rackets, we’ve made great strides. There are many more options for shapes, lengths, and weights than we could ever have imagined just a few decades back. It can be difficult to choose the right racket with all of the variables involved. However, if we narrow down our options, it makes our job easier.
Racket length is a crucial decision. Let’s focus today on finding the right racket size for junior players.
If you haven’t noticed, these attributes are tied to two basic variables of tennis: power in the hit & control of the ball.
How to Choose the Right Tennis Racket
A tennis racquet is a racquet that has a handle and striking surface. The main components of the racket are as follows:
- Head: This is the largest part of the racket. It consists of a rim with strings running through it.
- Lever: This is where the player holds the racket. The handle is oval-shaped and has a plug at the end.
- Strings: Strings are an integral part of the racket. Strings are stretched along the racket’s rim using a special machine to regulate the tension force. Strings affect the speed and direction of the ball’s flight after hitting it. They also influence how much recoil the player will feel. You can have strings or no strings on your racket.
Here are some things to consider when buying a tennis racket
You need the knowledge to be able to choose the right tennis racket for you. These are the main characteristics of rackets that you should consider:
Speed (swing): Hit gesture speed
The speed at which a tennis player moves the tennis racket during a stroke is called the striking gesture. You can distinguish between players who hit slower (typically intermediates or novices), and those who hit faster (typically advanced players).
Advanced players will be able to use the heaviest tennis rackets that have a greater displacement balance. Players with slower swings should choose lighter rackets that have a lower balance to allow for faster movement and better control when hitting the ball.
Material for manufacturing
Materials such as aluminum and graphite, basalt or kevlar, ceramics and titanium, fiberglass, carbon, and carbon can be used in tennis rackets.
Rackets can be entirely made from one of the materials above or an alloy. Aluminum rackets cost the least. They are lightweight and durable.
They are however very lightweight (200 to 250 g), making them suitable for beginners. Expert players will often use graphite rackets while pro players prefer carbon rackets.
Tennis racket length
The average length of a tennis racket measures between 68-70 centimeters. These racquets are not the only ones available. There are also junior and mini-tennis tennis racquets that have shorter lengths to match the heights of the younger players.
It is easy to see that the tennis racket’s length determines how powerful it is at hitting the ball. This is because the racket’s angular velocity is greater when it hits the ball. This can have a negative effect on control, as the ball’s ideal hitting point is further away from the player.
It is important to remember that hitting power will be affected if a player cannot move a longer racket at the speed of a shorter one.
Racket weight
The force and speed of the strike are affected by the weight of the racket. The harder the hit, the heavier the racket. It is easier to deliver powerful blows and to perform quick-serves with a heavier racket.
It is more difficult to break it up and more physically demanding to use a heavy racket. Each hit will require more effort than a lighter racket.
Lightweight rackets weighing in at 300g are easy to handle. It is easier to use one hand to control the backhand than a heavier one. The racket’s weight ranges from 250 to 335 grams.
It is best to start with lighter rackets and then move up to heavier rackets for beginners. Heavy rackets are preferred by professionals who play in rallies where powerful blows are exchanged.
Hitting the surface size
This is another important factor in determining whether a tennis racket’s power or control is more important. This measurement is in cm2 and the racket’s head size is typically between 600 cm2 to 780 cm2.
The head of a tennis racquet is generally larger, which means it has more power. A mini trampoline will bounce less than a larger trampoline, while a person would bounce more on a large trampoline. The tension of the string will also affect how much power the hit brings. Lower tension is better.
Handle size of Racket
How accurately the handle matches the player will determine the ease and comfort of playing. Handle sizes vary from 4 to 4 3/4 inches (inches)
The handle should not be too small or large. It will not fit comfortably in the hand and will spin frequently. There will also be many greased strokes, kicks, and so on.
Take the racket with one hand. This will determine how big the handle is. Next, place your other hand between your fingers and the racket’s palm.
The handle may be too small if the finger cannot fit in the gap or is having difficulty getting there. The handle should be reduced by an order of magnitude if the gap between your fingertips and your palm is too big.
You will feel great discomfort if you choose the wrong size handle. You can slip the racket of your hand and spin it, but the strikes will occasionally break.
This will result in a drop in play quality, class, and strike accuracy. A smaller handle is better than a bigger one. To adjust the volume to your liking, wrap a handle around your hand.
Profile of a tennis racket
This is a crucial aspect to consider when selecting a tennis racket. The profile refers to the height of the racket’s frame. This height is usually measured in millimeters.
A thinner profile of the racket gives us better control over the ball, while a thicker profile gives us more power and will allow us to hit harder. Intermediate and novice players should choose rackets with a high profile (between 22-28mm) while advanced players should opt for lower profiles (18-21mm).
Brands that are popular
Only a few companies make high-quality tennis rackets. Wilson, Yonex, and Head are the most well-known of these companies.
Wilson rackets are preferred by top world tennis players; in particular, Roger Federer and Serena Williams use Wilson rackets.
Racket String Pattern
You can buy strings in monofilament or multi-fiber. The first type is a collection of fibers that have been twisted together.
Monofilament strings consist of one string. Multifilament strings, which retain their elasticity for longer, are increasingly popular at the moment.
There are many sizes of string:
- 16 – Diameter 1.28-1.32mm
- 17 – Diameter 1.24-1.27mm
- 18 – Diameter 1.22 mm.
The string is thinner, so it bends and deforms more under the ball when it hits. These strings are more likely to enclose the ball, increasing the contact between the string and the ball.
The shot is, therefore, more precise and the player has greater control over the ball when taking different shots. Thicker strings also give the ball more spin and speed. Thicker strings will bend under the ball less, giving it less speed.
You need to know your playing style when choosing strings: aggressive play, flat shots and serves that are powerful, or ball-holding with more spins and less power.
The corresponding strings are determined by the style of play. They are based on striking power (power), rotation (of spin), and playing comfort (comfort). A game that preserves significant service life (durability)
Balance of the Tennis Racket
Different racquets have a different balance. The product’s center is adjusted to shift the balance to that part. There are three types of rackets: handle balance, medium balance, and head balance.
To find the racket’s balance, place your finger between the racket’s head and handle. The racket will be balanced in one of three positions. It can be parallel to the ground (neutral balance), horizontal (head balance), or vertical (handle balance).
Let’s discuss the three options for balance in greater detail:
- Head balance: This racket’s center gravity is moved to the “head”. This means that the maximum weight is moved to the head. These rackets produce more power but are more difficult to control. The rackets will become bulkier if they are further away from your hand.
- Balance neutral: This versatile racket is mid-balanced and has equal weight distribution. This racket is ideal for players who enjoy playing both at the net and in the back row.
- Balance: This racket is ideal for players who prefer control over power and love to play near the net. This racket is less powerful than a racket that has a balance to its “head,” but the ball is easier to control.
Different types of a tennis racket
There are many racket gradations. Let’s just focus on the most important.
- It all depends on the gender of your player Men, women, and children.
- Based on head size in square centimeters Standard (426), medium size (452-574), middle plus (580-677), and oversize (710-742), 748-871.
- The length of the racket will determine the price. Medium (28 inches), short (27 inches), and long (29).
- Based on weight light (250-270g), medium (273-320g), and heavy (321-321g) A beginner and intermediate adult player, as well as amateurs, will be most successful with light to medium rackets. Heavy racquets are preferred by pros.
Both men and women should pay close attention to their racket sizes and weights.
String formula
It’s the ratio of vertical and horizontal strings within the racket. The most common string formula for adult tennis racquets, 16×19, is the best. More strings help to generate more precise shots.
Strings have an effect
Many amateur and novice musicians don’t pay much attention to the strings and do not know how to play them. The strings are crucial. The string’s match to your playing style and how they are stretched will affect the accuracy, power, and rotation of the ball.
The strings become more stretched as you play. This causes your accuracy and strength to drop. Professionals can haul the strings, so it is important to change them from time to again.
You should pay attention to whether strings are present when buying a racket. Sometimes rackets come without strings, but this shouldn’t be frightening.
Important racket accessories
These are the essential accessories that a tennis player needs:
Winding The winding is an elastic wrap that is placed around the racket handle. The winding allows you to adjust the size and shape of your racket handle.
Winding also affects the comfort of your racket grip during the game.
Vibration damper It is located between the strings of the racket, near the center of the handle. The damper’s purpose is to reduce vibration and noise after an impact.
The truth is that the strings vibrate and stretch during a strike. This causes the hand to become irritated and can cause damage to the ligaments and joints.
These vibrations are significantly reduced by the damper. The racket also produces less noise when hitting the ball.
Conclusion
It is best to try different rackets to get a better idea of which one you prefer.
You can either ask your friends or rivals to rent rackets or you can hire several. Talking to an experienced coach or player can help you choose the right racket based on your anthropometric data as well as your playing style.
