Buying a tennis racquet can be intimidating. To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest blunders most people can make when looking for a racquet.
1. Inaccurate assessment of your tennis style and level
Prior to investing in a new tennis racquet it is vital to analyze your tennis game and understand what type of player you are. This assessment will be an invaluable guide as you venture through [the vast world of tennis racquets.]
Often times your game would benefit from having a tennis racquet that balances out your game rather than amplifying something you naturally have. For example, if you have a big swing and generate a lot of power but lack consistency then a stable, control racquet may be your best bet.
Try asking yourself the following:
Scrutinize your tennis game. What does your game have? What is your game missing?
Reflect on your swing. Do you have a full swing or is it more of a punch? Do you generate your own power, or do you rely on your racquet to generate power?
Think about your playing style. Are you a baseliner or do you serve and volley? Do you generate a lot of natural top spin? Do you hit winners or do you aim for simply returning the ball?
Consider your game. Do you mainly play singles or doubles?
Identify your aspirations. What do you aspire to be able to do on court? Are you currently a pusher and working on increasing your swing to generate power and spin?
Analyze your current racquet. What do you like / not like about your racquet?
To better understand your tennis style and level, check out the articles “What is my Playing Style?” and “What is your NTRP Rating?”.
2. Picking the latest and greatest racquet that is being promoted by your favourite player
Don’t fall into the trap of buying into various marketing gimmicks used by manufacturers, such as player endorsements, new colour schemes or “ground shattering” improvements in the latest version.
Most professional tennis players continue to play with the same model racquet they have used for many years, but with the paint job of the newest racquet that they are promoting. It takes too much effort to adapt to new equipment!
If you find a racquet that works for you, be sure to invest in a few extra as they may be discontinued or you may break your strings during a match.
Click here for a video outlining the actual racquets used by top ATP players.
3. Choosing a racquet that is too heavy
If you’re undecided between two weights, select the lighter racquet. An overlooked benefit of a lighter racquet is that it provides you with flexibility to customize your racquet to your progression level by using leaded tape or other tools. A racquet cannot be made lighter without difficulty.
Pay attention to what goes on when you swing your racquet and connect with the ball. If you find yourself late on your stroke or fatigued after playing a set, it is too heavy. If your tennis racquet feels like it is getting pushed around when you return a hard ball or a serve, it is too light.
4. Focusing on static weight and ignoring swing weight
The swing weight indicates the way the weight is distributed within a racquet. Higher swing weight specifies that the weight is distributed further from the handle, towards the head (i.e. head heavy), thus for the same static weight, giving you more power – think of swinging a hammer.
5. You don’t consider the strings, the soul of the racquet!
The importance of selecting the right type of string (i.e. syn-gut, polyester or natural gut) and proper tension suited to your racquet and playing style cannot be over-emphasized.
To help simplify this decisions have a look at our articles on Selecting Strings and Selecting String Tension.
6. You select the wrong grip size
If you’re undecided between two grip sizes choose the smaller size as you can build it up with a thicker grip or by adding overgrips. Too large a grip is next to impossible to change.
If you don’t know your grip size, click here for two ways to help you determine the right size.
Solution
To avoid making these common mistakes, it is crucial to demo tennis racquets!
When demoing a racquet, remember to not only hit your favourite shots from the baseline, but also to hit volleys and serves while comparing different racquets. Assess the performance in match play. In the end, it is all about your own personal preference and what works for you. We want you to be truly in love with your selection for many years!
Make sure to compare the demos to your current racquet. Perhaps all you need to do, is to breathe new life into your older equipment that you already know and love. Try replacing the grip, upgrading the strings with the appropriate tension and adding a dampener!
How to Demo Racquets?
The two best ways to demo racquets are to check out a local shop or ask your friends or fellow tennis club members to try their racquets. Being able to compare multiple racquets at the same time can be quite revealing.
In Ottawa, we love the selection and demo program at Performance Tennis, located in Old Ottawa South. https://www.performancetennis.ca/
You may wish to consider buying or selling used tennis racquets on the RacquetMan Marketplace.
Tennis Racquet Recommendations
The information and statistics published online about racquets can be helpful in narrowing down your decision to a few racquets; however, nothing compares to testing one out on court yourself.
For the new tennis player who desires a thorough understanding of the wide range of characteristics available in modern tennis racquets, refer to our Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Tennis Racquet.
Below is a list of recommended racquets to try out organized by Player Level:
* Based on Tennis Spin's Recommendations.
Happy Demoing!
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Below are links to several videos from Tennis Spin containing more details on demoing racquets and racquet selection:
ABOUT HARRY - Tennis Spin
Harry owns and operates a tennis shop in Marin County in the San Francisco area. He has created the Tennis Spin - YouTube channel containing many interesting videos. His sincere comments, opinions and recommendations are based on his 30+ years of knowledge and experience in tennis operations and equipment sales, and has an avid recreational tennis player from childhood. (Did I mention that Harry has a pretty good sense of humour!?)
Great article ! Exactly what I needed . Thank you!