Tennis rackets come in three basics styles: Game Improvement, for lower-level players; Tweener, for intermediate players; and Player's, for advanced players. Each racket type offers different manufacturing characteristics to enhance the game of each type of player. Understanding the differences among tennis rackets will help you choose the right frame for your game.
Step 1
Choose a Game Improvement racket if you are a beginner, advanced beginner or senior. These rackets feature a larger head size to provide lesser-skilled players with more hitting area. The rackets also have a longer length, lighter weight and more stiffness.
Step 2
Choose a Tweener racket if you play the game once a week or more and are playing in a league with an above-average level of success. These rackets have many of the characteristics of Game Improvement rackets, but have slightly smaller heads to increase racket speed so you can generate more power.
Step 3
Choose a Player's racket if you a highly competitive player with excellent athletic skills. These rackets have the smallest heads, most flexibility and are shorter and heavier than other rackets. They are unforgiving on mis-hits and are made for players who will not have many errant shots.
Step 4
Play-test the several models of the type of racket you have chosen as your preferred type. A variety of manufacturers make all three styles of rackets using different materials and other proprietary manufacturing techniques. Many tennis pro shops have play-test, or demo, programs that allow you to hit with the racket on site or leave a credit card number so you can take the racket and play a match with it. Try testing two rackets of the same model with different grip sizes to learn what grip size feels best for you.
Step 5
Note the string tension and type of string in each racket you play test. Stringing the same racket looser or tighter by even a few pounds of tension or with a different type of string can greatly change its playing characteristics. Talk with a professional stringer about your game, the racket you are choosing and what type of string you should use.
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