An Amazing Array of Racket Options Faces Today's Tennis Player. How Do You Choose?

Tennis rackets (or racquets) have come a long way. Today's players enjoy choices--in materials, weight, size, and more--that players of a generation ago could not have imagined.

Then there are the brands: Wilson, Head, Prince, Dunlop, Yonex, Fischer, Babolat--to mention a few of the better known.

The problem for many tennis participants today is TMC: Too Much Choice.

If you're just starting out, or even if you've been playing for years, you could be confused not only by the incredible array of rackets on the market, but also by contradictory advice on how to select one to meet your needs.

This article attempts to cut through the fog and the hype around buying a tennis racket. It presents specific guidelines for selecting the one that is right for you, not for the fellow or gal the next court over.

A 'Rule' to Dump

First let's clear up a myth. Many people have the idea that they should go for an extremely light racket with the biggest head possible. Aside from the fact that you may pay a premium to get super-lightness and a big (or heavy) head in the same product, this is a "rule" to ignore. Otherwise it could cost you big: in poorer game skill and in increased risk of physical injury (this type of tennis racket is known to be hard on elbows and shoulders.)

For a few players, buying something light but "head heavy" may be the way to go. But for most of us, this should not be our goal.

Here, then, are basic guidelines for selecting a racket. If you can honestly assess your current skill level, and know your goal (whether it's to turn pro one day or just to play an occasional friendly game), then these guidelines will help you avoid making a mistake when you shop for a racket. Thesy will also give you confidence if you decide to shop online and take advantage of the discounts available on the Web.

Guideline #1: Choose A Racket for Your Skill Level

1. If you're a beginner, or you haven't played in 20 years, or you play only a half-dozen or so times a year, then you probably could use a "game improvement" or "power" racket . Most players in this category have relatively short and/or slow swings, so their rackets must deliver some of the power that they lack (but are in the process of developing).

Power rackets have large or even "supersized" heads, but heavier weight. The frames tend to be stiff: stiffer rackets bend less, taking less energy from the ball when it contacts the strings. A stiffer racket also has a larger sweetspot, which helps with control (something you don't want to relinquish altogether as you seek more power!).

2. If you're an experienced player, or one for whom powerful, long swings come naturally, then you probably should look for a "control" racket. Players in your category are more concerned with such things as improving the backhand, with being able to put a good spin on the ball, and with gaining skill to put the ball exactly where you want it, than with simple power issues.

A control racket addresses these needs through a smaller sized head, often (though not always) a lighter weight, a narrow frame, and more flexibility. That last factor may be important if your normal swing is so forceful that your balls often go long; by absorbing more of the ball's energy, a flexible racket may damp your power enough to significantly reduce your foul percentage.

3. If your skills are somewhere in the middle, then you might choose a racket for power or control depending on which area of your game needs more development. Or, you could seek a balanced racket--one that tries to strike a happy medium between power and control features (you may see these called "between" "in-between," or "tweener" rackets).

As you might guess, these intermediate-level tennis rackets range from slightly head-heavy to slightly head-light, with head size somewhere in the medium range. They do tend to be on the light side overall, though. If your current skill level is balanced--with your power and control about equally well developed--something in this category could be a good compromise.

Guideline #2: Stick with A Standard-Length Racket, Except ...

The standard length for a tennis racket is 27 inches. You can get longer ones, up to 29 inches, the legal tournament limit. The majority of players will do fine to stick close to the standard 27 inches.

On the other hand, if your swing is weak and nothing else you've tried has helped you could experiment with something longer. More length will add power to your swings, not to mention greater reach. Drawbacks? Longer tennis rackets can cause significantly more harm to your wrist and arm than shorter ones. They are also more difficult to control.

Experts debate the value (or detriment) of greater length, but our advice is to stay close to 27 inches unless and until you determine you need the reach and power that only a longer racket can confer. (You can find shorter rackets in lengths down to about 23 inches, which may be more suitable for children.)

Guideline #3: Get the Handle Size Right!

Beginners (and some experienced players) often give little thought to handle circumference, but a mismatch with the size of your hand can wreck your game as surely as the wrong headsize or racket weight will.

If you want more control, a larger handle size is one way to get it. Some players prefer a smaller size, though, especially if they tend to be power servers. Our advice? Use the following as a rough guide to handle sizes (also referred to as grip sizes). Later, if you decide you would like something larger, you can add an overgrip or moleskin to the handle.

• Children: 4-1/8 to 4-3/8 inches
• Women: 4-3/8 to 4-1/2 inches
• Men: 4-1/2 inches to 4-7/8 inches

To help you settle on the final grip size, you should also ask yourself whether your hand is small, average, or large for your sex (or age, in the case of a child).

Guideline #4: Don't Sweat the Other Stuff

Other considerations in choosing a tennis racket, like string size and pattern, may be important at some levels of play, but for most of us they are not worth worrying about much. If you follow our first three guidelines you will not likely go wrong as you make your way through today's forest of choices.

Of course, budget is a consideration for most of us. Happily, the Web now offers the means to comparison shop on the basis of price as well as features. For peace of mind, make sure you deal with those online merchants who have established a reputation for reasonable prices, good product selection, and responsive customer service. We believe the following merchants meet those requirements.

Overstock.com
Rapdily becoming one of the top sites on the Web for top-brand tennis rackets at deep discounted prices. They also have a great selection of tennis shoes and books about tennis.

Paragon Sports
One of the best choices for tennis rackets online, on sale, and with free shipping. Also, they have the revolutionary Liquidmetal rackets.

Amazon.com Tennis Shop
Not just for book lovers anymore, Amazon now offers a great selection of tennis rackets as well as other game accessories and attire.