Choosing the Best Tennis Racket

Whether you are just starting out as a tennis player, or even if you are an old pro, the tennis gear you choose is extremely important. One of the most important pieces of tennis merchandise that you will purchase as a tennis player is your tennis racket. Your racket is extremely important and will set the tone for your game, so of course you want to pick out the best tennis racket you can find. With so many different choices out there, it can be difficult to figure out what the best tennis racket is for you; however, if you consider your skills, your style of playing, the weight, and the materials of the racket, you should pick a winner.

Skill LevelWhen you are looking for the best tennis racket, one of the most important things that you need to consider is your skill level. Beginners will want to make different choices from advanced players when it comes to picking out tennis equipment.

1. Beginners - If you are a beginner at tennis, more than likely you will want to start out with a cheap racket that has a larger head than most. Having the oversized head will make it easier to hit the tennis ball while you are learning. Also, there is definitely no need to spend a couple hundred dollars on a racket until you have learned the basics and decided that you want to actively pursue this sport.

2. Intermediate and Advanced - Intermediate and advanced players will want to pick out a racket that has a smaller head than the rackets for the beginners. While the oversized head is great for beginners, as an intermediate to advanced player, you should have more strength in your tennis swing and a smaller head will allow you a great deal more control in your hits.

Style of Playing

More than likely if you are an advanced player, you have your own particular style of playing. Your tennis playing style will also influence what you will need in a good tennis racket. If you like to use a great deal of topspin in your game, then a racket that is head heavy can help you improve your spin. Also, if you are a serve and volley player, there are tennis rackets that are specifically designed for your style of play, and the same goes for players whose game relies mainly on groundstroking. No matter what style of play you enjoy, more than likely you will be able to find a racket that can enhance and improve your style.

Racket Weight

To avoid injury, taking a look at the weight of the tennis racket is important before you purchase it. While you may be inclined to head for the lighter rackets, actually you will want to choose a racket that is a bit heavier; however, the head should be fairly light. While it may sound a bit crazy to purchase a racket that is a bit on the heavy side, a lighter racket can also lead to injury, such as tennis elbow and shoulder problems. Also, a racket that is a bit heavier can also improve your serves as well as your groundstroke.

Racket Materials

When you are trying to pick out the best tennis racket, you will also need to consider the various materials that they are made of as well. The most common materials that are used on tennis rackets today include graphite, aluminum, and boron and Kevlar. Graphite rackets are probably the most popular, since it provides great hitting power and both beginners and even advanced players will find that this type of a racket will perform nicely for them.
Aluminum rackets are cheaper than graphite ones, and they will provide you with excellent feel. The Boron and Kevlar rackets are very stiff and can cause shoulder problems due to the shock, so this type of racket should be avoided by a beginning player.

While there are no set overall rules when picking out a racket, there are a variety of things to keep in mind so you can pick out the very best tennis racket. So instead of just walking into a shop and taking a few practice swings, keep these tips in mind and find the best tennis racket for you.

By Hannah Reid

How to Grip a Tennis Racket

Many tennis players will not take a good look at the importance of their grip on the tennis racket. The expert will recommend that you restring your racket several times each year, but do not explain to the players that having the right grip is going to mean a lot when it comes to playing your game well and having the best tennis score as possible.

When you are shopping for a tennis racket, it is so important to consider the stiffness and the head size of it. Once you have made the decision you should make sure that the racket is the correct grip size for you. The most available sizes start at 4” and will be increased by an eight of an inch.

There are so many different ways to grip a tennis racket. Depending on the level that you are playing at, you may learn one or more of the ways to grip onto the racket. There is the western, eastern, and the continental way of gripping. One of the basis ways of holding the tennis racket is to act is if you are grapping someone’s hand to shake. You will see that this is a comfortable grip on the racket, which will allow you to have a better game. It may be weird at first, but once you learn it, you will get used to the feeling.

If you are feeling the need to increase your grip size, you can apply and over grip to your regular way of holding the racket. This will save you on the wear of your grip and will also give you a better feel. The good thing about over grips is that are not expensive and you can try them till you find one that feels the best for you.

It really does not matter if you are a professional or a beginner, you should understand the different grips and the options that are out there for you so that you can have a better game. If you are not comfortable with the grip that you have on your tennis racket, you may not have as much fun on the courts. You need to make sure that you have all of the information so that you can have fun and be good at the game too.

You do not have to be a complete professional at holding the racket. All you have to do is be willing to give it a try and have fun with it. You will see that you can catch on to the game quicker if you are holding the tennis racket in the correct way. You are going to improve your game and have more fun at the same time when you have the proper form and grip.

By Ivar Rudi