If you are a beginner, you will derive more pleasure by using a game-improvement racket as you sharpen your skills and see if tennis is the game for you. Game-improvement rackets have a larger "sweet spot," which enables you to generate more power and accuracy even when you don't hit the ball in the center of the racket. And, as a beginner, you should expect more mishits than squarely hit shots as you learn to play the game.
Grip
Whether you start playing tennis with a basic and inexpensive game-improvement racket, or invest in a pricier model, be sure the grip size is the right fit. As Dick's Sporting Goods points out, a grip that is too small allows the racket to twist in your hand, sacrificing power and control. A grip that is too large is no bargain either -- it decreases your wrist snap, which weakens your serves and it makes it tougher to spin the ball. A grip that is too large or small eventually can lead to tennis elbow because you have to compensate for the mismatched grip by swinging in an manner that puts extra strain on your wrist, forearm and elbow.
Head Size
Beginners need rackets with bigger heads. A bigger head gives you the largest sweet spot and the best chance for your mishits to find their way over the net. Oversize and super-oversize rackets range from 107 square inches to 135 inches. The best size in this category will depend upon how the racket feels and performs for you. If you are a smaller person, for example, you might find a super-oversize racket to be unwieldy.
String Tension
Most rackets for beginners are strung to a medium tension, which will work fine for the average beginner. However, if you are a powerful player who generates lots of racket speed, you need stronger tension to keep from spraying the ball all over the place. If you have a weak or slow swing, looser strings will enable you to maximize power.
Considerations
Tennis Warehouse employs testers to try out and recommend new rackets. For the 2011 season, Tennis Warehouse recommends seven models of game-improvement rackets well-suited for a beginner. The are: Babolat Y 118 Smart Grip; Head YOUTEK Three Star Black or White; Prince EXO3 Silver; Volkl Power Bridge 1; Wilson K Factor KZero; and Yonex S-Fit 5. At the time of publication, these rackets range in price from about $100 to $249.
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