The "best" tennis racket is one that amplifies your playing strengths without magnifying your weaknesses. Tennis rackets come in myriad styles and models, with a variety of manufacturing techniques used to add power or control. Because of the quality of manufacturing, even inexpensive rackets are well-made and last long. The test of a good racket, then, is the combination of power and control it provides a specific player.
Power Rackets
Rackets provide power based, in part, on their frame stiffness. Stiffer rackets provide more power than flexible rackets because they "give" less when they hit the ball, sending more power into the ball. A flexible racket offers more control. Additionally, lighter rackets are easier to swing and can be swung with more speed, providing more acceleration. Longer rackets provide more power because the head takes longer to get to the ball, allowing for more acceleration. Because top players can generate their own power, they prefer more flexible rackets. The best racket for a recreational player, then, is stiffer, lighter and longer, all of which help them obtain more power.
Control Rackets
If you hit the ball hard but lack or want more control, you'll want a more flexible racket. A larger head size provides a larger hitting area, which means off-center shots have more of a chance of staying in the court; however, a larger head adds weight and decreases swing speed. More weight in the head expands the sweet spot. Higher-level players don't need as much control from a racket since they hit the ball on the center of the strings, so they use smaller head sizes and shift the racket's weight more toward the handle. Lower-level players get their power from a heavier, stiffer racket, so they can afford the slight decrease in speed with a larger head, in exchange for the control it gives.
Strings
No matter what type of racket you buy, the strings will greatly determine how it plays. Regarding string tension, the basic tenet is, "Tight for control, loose for power." Tight strings produce less rebound and more control, while loose strings are more elastic and, like a trampoline, project the ball with more rebound. The thickness or gauge of a string will affect how the racket plays, as well. A thicker (lower-gauge) string gives more control, while thinner strings add more spin and power.
Racket Types
Game improvement rackets have larger heads, stiffer frames, longer length and a heavier weight and are the best rackets for beginners and advanced beginners. Tweener rackets are the best rackets for intermediate and competitive recreational players because they offer the best combination of stiffness, head size, length and weight for players who have developed more controlled strokes but may not have world-class timing, speed and precision. Players' rackets are lighter, more flexible, shorter and have smaller head sizes, allowing top players to use their strength and accuracy to get racket head speed and control without sacrificing either from a large head or too flexible frame.
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