Sporting Goods – Finding the Correct Tennis Racket for You
Is bigger always better?
As a beginner, the head size of your racket shall initially help you start, this shall help you achieve more success in your game. As a result you shall be able to get more balls into the court, helping you achieve faster improvement when playing. The larger the racket, the larger surface area, also known as a sweet spot, you will be able to use when playing. As a beginning, you will be still learning how to play properly, and therefore this will enable you to develop your technique. Regardless of your stroke and timing, a larger racket will help you hit the ball.
How heavy is too heavy?
The second factor which needs to be taken into consideration when you are choosing a racket is the weight of it. The ideal weight for a beginner taking up tennis is one which I light. This will allow you to swing the racket easier, and allow you to play for a longer duration before getting tired. As your muscles are still developing, the heavier rackets will be harder to swing. A racket should feel light-weight and be easy for you as the user to swing. However, requesting assistance when choosing your racket is a good idea, as if the racket is too light it may make you develop a poor technique, such as flicking your wrist.
How the way you grip your racket will determine your choice
The final facture when choosing a tennis racket as a beginner, is picking the correct grip size. If your grip size is too small, then you will end up holding the handle too tightly. This may result in accelerated tiredness or worse, injury. On the other hand, if you choose a grip size which is too large, then you will find it harder to use your wrist correctly, and as a result may change the way in which you grasp the racket. A good grip is one which involves you to be able to hold the racket comfortably, while allowing a wide range of movement and motion when using your wrist and forearm.
The best way of determining your correct grip size is to hold a racket in your normal forearm grip. When you are holding it, you should be able to squeeze a fingers width between your finger tips and your palm. Once you have grasped your playing technique, there are a few other variables which can be taken into consideration that if you hit a lot using a topspin then you should choose a smaller size grip. Alternatively, if you choose to play and hit flat a bigger grip should be considered. Another method that can be used to determine the correct grip size is to measure your ring finger from the tip to an inch below your finger; this should give you the correct grip size.
Other things to think about…
A lot of tennis rackets are sold pre-strung. The strings on a tennis racket are often dependent on the quality of its frame. The tighter the strings are strung, the more control the user has when hitting the ball, while the looser the strings allow for more force and power behind the swing. Therefore when changing these characteristics, you shall be able to alter the manner of which your racket performs.
p.p1 margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #000000
p.p2 margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #000000; min-height: 13.0px
span.s1 font-kerning: none
When you are choosing your new tennis racket, it is also advised that you pick one made of graphite or aluminium, as these are lighter materials for a beginner. With a large variety of tennis rackets on the market, make sure you choose your preferred brand and colour, although these are of course personal preference and dependent in your style, and take on an aesthetical aspect. They shall not have any bearing on your performance and game.