Racquet Buying Guide
Trying to pick out the perfect tennis racquet? Let us help you find the best tennis racquet for your game. We have placed racquets into 5 main categories: Power, Control, Spin, Comfort, and Junior. The Power and Control categories speak for themselves, but Comfort refers to how arm-friendly a racquet is. Junior racquets refer to any models shorter than the standard 27 inches. Using the explanations below will help you digest racquet specs and how they translate to performance on the court. If you have not played tennis before, comfort racquets are a good place to start, because of the emphasis on arm health.
Racquet Terms
Head Size
These days, the vast majority of racquets are in the 97 to 105-square-inch range. This range in size offers the best balance of forgiveness, maneuverability, and stability. Provided your swing speed is the same with both, a larger head racquet will produce more power than a smaller head racquet. For example, a 95' will produce less power than a 110', while a 97' and 98' would be difficult to differentiate. A smaller racquet head reduces power and improves control and mobility.
String Pattern
This refers to the number of main (up and down) strings and the number of crosses (side to side) strings. The most common patterns around are 16x18, 16x19, 16x20, and 18x20. The string pattern cannot be changed*. You will hear debates about "dense pattern" versus "open pattern" racquets. Dense refers to very small spaces between the strings, while an open pattern has more separation between the strings. A good way to remember is More strings (dense pattern) = more control. Fewer strings (open pattern) = more power and spin.
Weight
The median weight of the average modern tennis racquet is around 10-11.5 ounces. Again, this is in pursuit of the best combo of forgiveness, maneuverability, and stability. You want to use the heaviest racquet that you can swing comfortably, without straining. The best choice is a racquet that is stable enough to handle pace but light enough for you to still get your racquet moving in time to strike the ball.
Flex (Stiffness)
On our site, you will see an RA (stiffness rating) for every racquet sold at TE. A more flexible racquet feels like the ball is staying on the strings longer (we are talking nanoseconds). Racquets around 70 RA and up will be quite firm, and racquets from 60-65 (and lower) RA will be softer and more flexible. Benefits of highly flexible frames include shock absorption, and increased control and comfort. Usually, racquets with thinner beams (20-22mm) will be more flexible frames, and racquets with thicker beams will have a firmer "feel". Stiffer racquets will not flex much and are often described as crisp and solid. A stiff racquet will also transmit more shock to the arm than a more flexible one.
Swing Weight
A racquet's swing weight determines how easy or difficult it is to swing the racquet. A racquet with a swing weight above 330 will play very stable and powerful, but it won't be very maneuverable. Look for a swing weight in the 305-320 range for a good blend of mobility and stability. Only the most advanced tennis players should use a swing weight north of 330.
Balance
When you pick up a racquet for the first time, without even swinging it you will notice its balance. A head-light racquet is easy to move quickly and is a great option for players who spend most of their time up at the net. Conversely, the head-heavy balance is more cumbersome at the net but provides a little more help from the back of the court (where you have additional reaction time). Super-light racquets are often slanted towards head-heavy to get power, whereas middle-weight or heavy racquets are more evenly balanced or head-light for maneuverability.
Length
Most adult tennis racquets are 27 inches long. The maximum length for a racquet is 29 inches but because they are so hard to maneuver you won't see many of them. The most common "longer" racquet is probably in the 27.2-27.6-inch range. They provide a little bit more reach without being impossible to wield. As for the Red, Orange, and Green ball divisions, 23' is the maximum length for the Red ball, 25' is the maximum length for the orange ball, and 27" is the maximum length for the green ball.
Grip
Most racquets come with a black or white synthetic grip built for comfort. You can purchase different thicknesses of grip if you want to feel the bevels a little bit more or increase the size. Some players enjoy the feedback of the old-school leather grip despite its rather firm feel. Leather grips are also thinner and heavier (by several grams) than synthetic grips, so they are a good way to increase the racquet's weight if you desire. Check out the link for selecting the correct grip size.
When deciding on the best racquet for your game, there is no substitute for trying the racquet prior to purchasing. Take advantage of our Demo program and test racquets to help you narrow your search.