Make the correct choice
- The range of tennis rackets is huge. That is why TennisPlanet has - in cooperation with the tennis racket manufacturers - set up a system to help you make the correct choice: Racket Navigator.
- Racket Navigator is very simple. Select the options you would like and click on on the button 'show the selected rackets'. You then will see all the tennis rackets which meet the requirements of your selection.
To find the tennis racket that suits you best, there are six important qualities:
- The type of swing, which is directly connected to the agility and mobility of a tennis racket, is actually the flexibility with which you can handle a tennis racket.
- A good agility is, generally speaking, noticeable during all ball exchanges, but in particular during your service and net game.
- It is determined by the weight and the balance point of a tennis racket.
- That means, the lighter the weight of a tennis racket, the shorter the length and the higher the balance point, or the more agile it is.
There are three types of swing:
- Long swing = a lot of control
- Average swing = all round
- Short swing = a lot of ball acceleration
- The head size of a tennis racket is the surface area of the string pattern. It is expressed in cm² or in inch², where 1 inch² = 6,45 cm².
- Usually, the power or striking strength of a tennis racket is in proportion with the head size: the bigger the head size, the more power a tennis racket generates, but the less ball control you have.
When we're talking about the head size of a tennis racket, you have the following types:
- Midsize - small head size: < 97 inch² or 625 cm²
- Mid plus or MP - standard head size: 97– 105 inch² or 626 - 677 cm²
- Oversize or OS - large head size: 106 – 115 inch² or 678 – 742 cm²
- Super oversize - extra large head size: > 116 inch² or 742 cm²
- The frame length is the total length of a tennis racket and is expressed in centimetres.
- The standard length of most tennis rackets is between 68.5 and 69 centimetres.
- A longer tennis racket, is also called a Longbody or Stretch racket.
- The advantage of a longer tennis racket is a bigger reach and more striking power, especially with the serve. However, the agility and amount of control decreases.
This gives the following two possibilities:
- 68.0 – 69.0 cm : standard
- > 69.0 cm: long body
- The profile height is the height or thickness of the tennis frame and is expressed in millimetres.
- The thickness of a tennis racket influences the "striking power" of a racket.
- The rule 'the thinner a tennis racket, the more flexible, the more striking power and the more comfort, but the less control' does not stand anymore.
- You also have to take into account the materials with which the tennis racket has been fabricated.
- You can assume nowadays that a thin tennis racket, meaning a tennis racket with a low profile height, is usually a heavier tennis racket which gives you a lot of ball control, but less power or striking strength.
- A tennis racket with a high profile height is usually a light racket with less ball control, but with a lot of striking power.
Overview
- 17.0 – 20.9 mm - tennis racket with a lot of control
- 21.0 – 22.9 mm - tennis racket with average control
- 23.0 – 24.9 mm – all round tennis racket
- 25.0 – 26.9 mm – all round tennis racket
- 27.0 – 28.9 mm - tennis racket with average power
- > 29.0 cm - tennis racket with a lot of power
- The weight of a tennis racket is expressed in grams. The general rule is: the heavier a tennis racket, the more ball control. The lighter a tennis racket, the more striking strength or power you can put into your shots.
This gives the following overview:
- > 320 grams - very heavy tennis racket
- 300 – 319 grams - heavy tennis racket
- 280 – 299 grams - standard weight tennis racket
- 260 – 279 grams - reasonably light tennis racket
- 240 – 259 grams - light tennis racket
- 220 – 239 grams - very light tennis racket
- < 220 grams - ultra light tennis racket
- The balance point of a tennis racket is the point where the tennis racket is in balance or in equilibrium. The balance point is expressed in centimetres.
- The average length of a tennis racket is more or less 68 cm, which means that a tennis racket with a balance point of more or less 33 to 34 cm is a tennis racket "in balance".
- With a balance point of < 33 cm, so a tennis racket where there is more weight in the handle, we talk about a handle heavy or handle weight tennis racket.
- With a balance point of > 34 cm, so a tennis racket where there is more weight in the head, we talk about a head heavy or top weight tennis racket.
Head heavy or top weight rackets
- The advantage of this type of tennis racket is that it generates more striking strength or power.
- The disadvantages are not always as clear, but it is generally accepted that it decreases the ball control.
Handle heavy or handle weight rackets
- A tennis racket with more weight in the handle offers more ball control and is designed for competitive tennis players who already manage to put enough power or striking strength in their stroke exchanges.
This gives the following over view:
- 29.0 – 30.9 cm - clear handle weight tennis racket
- 31.0 – 32.9 cm - handle weight tennis racket
- 33.0 – 34.9 cm – all round tennis racket
- 35.0 – 36.9 cm - top weight tennis racket
- > 37 cm - clear top weight tennis racket