TENNIS RACKET SINGAPORE

How to Choose a Tennis Racket for Beginners

Selecting a proper tennis racket is important. In the video below, I will teach you want to look out for when choosing a tennis racket. Doesn't matter if it is a Wilson, Babolat, Yonex, Head or even Prince racket, as long as you follow the guide, any would work. Most importantly is you work on your skills on court.

The best way to figure out if a tennis racket suits you and your style of play, is to head to the tennis courts and have a hit about!

If you need more professional advise on what racket to get, how to grip the racket and how to play tennis, do fill free to reach out to us. A Banana Tennis Coach will be happy to help you out.

Evolution of the Tennis Racket

Super old school

Old school

In the late 1800’s, what is considered the “modern wooden racket” was developed. It became the primary tennis racket used for the newer outdoor version of the game of tennis. The racket head was slightly larger, and the shape not quite as oval as its predecessor. It became wider and more flattened towards the top. Surprisingly, the tennis racket in this form survived for the better part of the next 100 years with only some minor modifications. Improvements during this time included laminating technology (thin layers of wood glued together) and strings. However, even with that, wooden rackets were a bit cumbersome and produced little power.

First metal head

Modern....for now

The next change to the composition of the tennis racket came around the year 1980, when the graphite racket was introduced. The material was a combination of carbon fibers and a plastic resin used to bind them together. This produced a stiffer frame for players which was intended to increase the ability to hit harder and more powerful shots.

For tennis racket manufacturers, the graphite material produced a problem they didn’t expect. The material and the racket itself tended to last for many years, with little to no decrease in performance. This was quite a change from the wooden rackets that would warp, crack and dry out with age. To combat the issue, the manufacturers developed a series of innovations such as oversized head, wider frame and lighter weight. Those changes are reflected in many of the rackets used today.

Tennis Racket Specifications

Head Size

The head size of the tennis racket was fairly standard in the period of time prior to the 1980’s. The size was typically no larger than 85 square inches. But around that time, tennis rackets were being made with larger heads.

The thought was that with a larger head, players would have a better chance of getting a good hit, rather than a weaker hit with a smaller racket that they didn’t hit in the center. Therefore, the head size increased and became as large as 125 square inches, although professional players of today use rackets anywhere between 95 and 115 square inches.

Racket Weight

One of the drawbacks of the wooden racket was the weight. Most wooden rackets came in at about 410g and were heavier than today’s models. With the introduction of metal and graphite rackets, one of the key benefits was the weight.

When shopping for a racket today, players will find options anywhere from 200g up to around 355g depending on what they are looking for. Obviously, the benefit of the lighter model is a quicker and faster swing with a lighter model.

Grip

If there is one change from previous years regarding the size of the grip on the tennis racket, its smaller. Although the changes seem subtle, it can make a big difference.

Years ago, some professional players used grips as big as 4 ⅝ inches. But the trend now is smaller. For instance, Rafael Nadal uses what is considered a skinny grip at just 4 ¼ inches. The reason for this is to add more snap into his forehand for more speed and topspin. Recreational players are also opting for the smaller grip saying they get more control from it.

Strings/Tension

With today’s tennis rackets, most have a string tension 50 and 70 pounds, depending on the racket type. In the days of the wooden racket, many players opted for a lower tension string weight which allowed them a little more spring and power. However, it also had an effect on controlling the accuracy of the shot.

In the modern game, most players prefer a tighter tension on the strings. Materials for the strings currently is composed of a few main types. Gut is used in two options, synthetic gut or natural gut. Other types are Multifilament and Synthetic, Nylon, Polyester and Kevlar.

Professional players of today use synthetic/polyester due to the speed and power it can create. There are many different composition of strings out there in the market, but they are generally a blend of the Nylon and Polyester and Kevlar.

5 UNIQUE TENNIS RACKETS

Over the years there have been a variety of unusual and non-standard rackets that have been introduced. Here are a few of the most unusual designs.

Image from racquetmuseum.com

Macgregor Bergelin Longstring

The Macgregor Bergelin Longstring has a semi-octagonal head shape with diagonal strings. There was also a string tension control system, at the racket butt, that allowed you to adjust tension using an Allen key device.

Image from https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/

Neoxxline Carving Star

Then there was the Neoxxline Carving Star which featured a rotated head and a curved handle. The design originated in the 1980’s in Sweden. The unique shape of the handle was said to ease pressure on the wrists when hitting serves and volleys. And because of the angle of the strings, it was said that the head would generate more spin.

Image from amazon.com

Blackburne Double Strung

The Blackburne Double Strung was just what it sounds like, a racket with two sets of strings. Blackburne said that the double string bed helped to relieve tennis elbow, and gave the racket a larger sweet spot and was more stable than other models. However, detractors didn’t like to have to use two sets of strings and the racket’s price point was higher than many people would have liked.

Image from ebay.it

Jenro Racket

Another racket that tried to take technology to the next step was the Jenro. This racket actually featured a detachable grip. The idea was that you could have one grip that could be attached to a variety of different head types. It attached via a tightening mechanism that was stored in the butt of the racket. Everything fastened together using a key. Those who used it liked the fact that they could have different frames, each with different strings or string tensions. The downside is that if you happen to lose the key, well, you get it.

Image from https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/

The Handler

Finally, The Handler was a design that came out in 1992. It was designed for the two-handed backhand doubles player and actually had two handles to grip it. However, it tended to make serving and volleying difficult due to both handles being off-center.

The Impact of Advancing Racket Technology

So as you can see, the tennis racket has changed and evolved over the years, and it's hard to predict what changes are still to come. A lot will probably have to do with what style of play becomes popular and manufacturers will be quick to adjust.

Advancing racket technology has changed the sport and will keep changing how the game is played.