Tennis rackets are constantly being reinvented and changed by manufacturers. There are several factors that go into choosing the correct racket for tennis players, including size, weight, flex, grip size, balance and string pattern. The number of choices are somewhat intimidating for young or new players, but the more experienced player usually finds that having more choices enables him to select the correct racket and ultimately play better tennis. Most of the changes have left the tennis racket lighter and stronger than its counterpart from past decades. Some coaches and professional players do not believe having a lighter racket is necessarily a good thing, even if it allows a player to hit the ball harder. The more ballast a racket has the more a player can control the direction of the shot.
What to Look for
Perhaps the single-most important factor when purchasing a tennis racket is making sure the grip is the right size. To figure out the correct grip size, place the racket in your palm; your fingers should be able to wrap around the grip with the tips falling just short of the base of your hand. Your racket also needs to have the proper head size: The traditional midsized racket has a hitting area of 95 to 105 square inches, while an oversized racket has 105 to 115 square inches. The oversize racket generally has more power but less control of the ball, while the midsized racket provides less power but is more accurate. Beginners generally like the oversized racket because of its added speed and power.
Common Pitfalls
Players are often mesmerized by the extra power that a larger racket provides. It can be quite appealing, but it can also mask deficiencies in your game. Accuracy is the most important factor in the game and if you choose power over placement, you will eventually realize the folly of your ways--but only after you've learned the basics. When that happens and you realize a smaller racket may have been the best choice, fundamentals have to be relearned. Expensive, multicolored rackets may get attention in the tennis club, but a player should go for a comfortable grip and a racket that provides accuracy rather than one that provides big power on the serve and forehand shots.
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