| Tennis is a great sport, especially if you don't mind | | | | measure it holding the racquet. Hold the racquet with |
| skinned knees, muscle spasms, and twisted backs. | | | | one hand and slide the index finger of the other hand in |
| We played tennis all summer when I was a kid. Our | | | | between the tips of your fingers and the base of your |
| rackets were not of the rich kid variety. They were of | | | | palm. If the grip is too small--there will not be enough |
| the Hey! Look what I found in the garbage can variety. | | | | room for the index finger. If there is extra room--the |
| We didn't know that there were things to know to | | | | grip is too large. The correct grip is when the index |
| properly pick a tennis racket. It was more like the | | | | finger fits perfectly." (see the illustrations at |
| racket picked us. But I do remember that after World | | | | Head Size |
| War II a local hardware store had a tremendous sale | | | | Starting from 60 square inches in wooden frames it |
| on tennis rackets. | | | | could be as large as 145 square inches in some exotic |
| You could get one for $5.00 if you could come up with | | | | frames. There is a legal limit of 135 square inches for |
| the money. | | | | playing Official Tournaments. |
| Somehow we got the money and a number of the | | | | The "sweet spot" in a racket is larger if the head size |
| kids got new rackets. Surely we were all on our ways | | | | is larger. That is where you get the most power. So |
| to the pros. | | | | what does that tell you? |
| These rackets were not of the best quality. | | | | Weight and Balance |
| One day a paste on label came off my racket. Under | | | | Your frame can be head heavy or head light. |
| the label pressed into the wood above the grip was | | | | Remember this: the part of the momentum of the |
| the word REJECTED. | | | | racket is transferred to the ball. The total momentum is |
| Anything could set me laughing in those days. | | | | the same before and after you hit the ball. Where do |
| While I was rolling around on the concrete of the tennis | | | | you want most of that final momentum to be? I would |
| court a small crowd gathered around me. They soon | | | | guess that you want it on the ball. But what good does |
| figured out why I was laughing because I was pointing | | | | it do you if the head is too heavy. You'll probably miss |
| above the grip. | | | | the ball. The racket might spin you around into a tizzy. |
| They pulled the labels off there rackets. Of course, | | | | Conclusionso "Lighter and head heavy racquets are |
| they all were rejects. That's why the strings came | | | | better for the slower game as they deliver more |
| loose, they were warped, and the grip material was | | | | power. Heavier even balanced or headlight racquets |
| falling off. | | | | are better for advanced players to have a faster |
| We held an emergency meeting on how we could sue | | | | game without injuries and to have more control.o "Tour |
| the sporting goods store, but we all knew how that | | | | professionals use custom balanced and usually heavier |
| would turn out. None of our dads were attorneys. | | | | frames.o "Any frame could be made heavier and |
| They all lived on the east side of town. | | | | balanced the way you like with the lead tape, but do |
| Some of us went back to the store. The store played | | | | not forget to check the facts about stiffness and |
| dumb! "Gee, we didn't know that they were rejects!" | | | | flexibility." |
| I like to watch the pros play tennis. But tennis is a | | | | Go to the site for more information and references. |
| game that you also can play even into your later | | | | Time to Get at the Meat of this Article |
| years. Some tennis players are even older than I am | | | | Here are some things that I've noticed the pros like to |
| and that is pretty darn old. | | | | do with their rackets.o The pros like to stare at the |
| A Good Samaritan pig donated his aortic valve to me | | | | sweet spot in a manner of worship. Therefore you |
| this spring and maybe I'll take the game up again. | | | | should have your favorite religious icon embedded in |
| That's if I can get a gazelle to donate me a new set | | | | the strings.o The pros like to throw their rackets |
| of legs. | | | | across the court. Therefore you should have it |
| Choosing a Racket | | | | designed by an aerospace engineer for smooth sailing |
| There are lots of sites such as that help you select a | | | | and landing.o The pros like to smash their rackets |
| racket. The quoted items are from that site. | | | | against the ground. You should have several rackets |
| Grip Size | | | | designed by a mechanical engineer that will take |
| A too small grip can cause "injuries of wrist and | | | | pounding against concrete, asphalt, or grass.o The pros |
| elbow." | | | | like to yell at the linemen. Therefore you should have a |
| A too large grip will make you "squeeze the grip | | | | bull horn mounted on your racket so you can really tell |
| tighter. That will put an extra tension on your arm | | | | him what for! |
| preventing the relaxed swing." | | | | You might want to practice your tantrums in front of a |
| "There is a way to measure your grip size with a ruler. | | | | full-length mirror. You don't want to look bad on the |
| Your correct grip size basically is the distance from | | | | court do you? That brings up the point of dress. Well, |
| the tip of your ring finger to the farthest main vertical | | | | you're on your own there. Try to smile when you are |
| line in your hand. I would not advise to rely on the ruler | | | | practicing that racket fling with your new aerodynamic |
| in this case. | | | | racket! |
| "The better way to determine the correct grip is to | | | | |