| Choosing a tennis racquet is far from as easy as | | | | intermediates. |
| picking the lightest one or the one that looks the | | | | - Tweeners - suitable for intermediate to advanced |
| meanest. If you're serious about getting a serious | | | | players. |
| tennis racquet, there are physics involved and | | | | - Control - suitable for advanced players. |
| ultimately the best advice is to have a basic | | | | Power racquets are very suitable for players with |
| understanding of the physics as well as buying a | | | | shorter, weaker strokes. Power racquets tend to have |
| racquet from somewhere that will let you demo | | | | larger heads and more power. Power tennis racquets |
| several different kinds. | | | | are also head-heavy or balanced. In other words, the |
| Learning how to choose a tennis racquet involves | | | | head of the racquet is equal to (or heavier than) the |
| many different aspects. | | | | weight of the handle. |
| Physics-wise, the perfect racquet for any player will | | | | Tweener racquets are lighter than power racquets. |
| be the one that offers the most ball speed for the | | | | Some are head heavy, others are balanced, and |
| least amount of effort. Momentum (mass times | | | | others are head-light. They are generally longer than |
| velocity) is what counts in the collision of ball on | | | | power racquets - the extra length can be helpful for |
| racquet, not Force (mass times acceleration) or | | | | groundstrokes. |
| Energy (1/2 mass times velocity squared). | | | | Control racquets have a lot of control and added |
| Swingweight is how heavy a racquet feels when it is | | | | precision. They do not have as much power as either |
| swung. Swingweight increases as the racquet's weight | | | | power racquets or tweeners, but that is okay - |
| is distributed closer to the head, so head-heavy and | | | | players who like control racquets can create their own |
| extra-long racquets will have a high swingweight in | | | | power. Generally, control racquets have smaller head |
| relation to stationary weight. | | | | sizes and heavier weights. |
| Moment determines a racquet's resistance to twisting | | | | Other elements that can and should influence your |
| (Torque) when the ball strikes the racquet off-center | | | | decision include: |
| (a fairly common occurrence). | | | | - Grip size - the length of the perimeter of the |
| Commonly used criteria for selecting racquets include | | | | octagonal cross-section of the handle. Too big and you |
| nebulous terms such as 'power', 'maneuverability', and | | | | will lose power, too small and you could hurt yourself |
| 'control'. The term 'power' could refer to the formulas | | | | and your game. If you find yourself in between grip |
| for racquet bounce, swingweight, or work. | | | | sizes, always buy the smaller size because it can be |
| Control is difficult to measure - again, physics dictates | | | | taped up to be bigger. |
| power and control are on two ends of a continuum: | | | | - Head size - the measure of the hitting area. Bigger |
| high power = low control and vice versa. | | | | head size means more 'power' and spin, but less |
| Maneuverability is described by Wilmot H. McCutchen | | | | 'maneuverability' and stability. |
| (racquet physics expert) as being "a vague jumble of | | | | - Racquet length |
| moment and swingweight", and that this quotient and | | | | - Flex - the resistance to bending on impact with the |
| definition varies from player to player. | | | | ball and highly personal depending on the strength of |
| McCutchen also argues that based on this ambiguity, | | | | your swing and the length of your reach. |
| each of these terms means something different to | | | | - String pattern |
| different players. Some players use 'maneuverability' | | | | - Weight and balance - concerning the recent trend |
| as another name for 'moment'. For them, a | | | | toward lighter materials: proponents say lighter ones |
| maneuverable racquet is easily positioned for quick | | | | are more 'maneuverable'. Critics disagree for the |
| shots such as volleys and returns. Other players | | | | above reasons. |
| mistake 'swingweight' for 'maneuverability' and for | | | | For in-depth analysis brand by brand, check out |
| them a maneuverable racquet is one that is easy to | | | | different reviews. Also, read up on tennis weight, |
| slap at tough shots. As a result of this confusion, some | | | | balance, frame size, length, and other topics related to |
| players mistakenly charge high swingweight as a bad | | | | the subject. The best way to choose, though, will |
| thing, when the problem is actually high moment. | | | | always be just to try different racquets in your game |
| At the sporting good stores, tennis racquets are | | | | and decide for yourself what your game needs most |
| (mostly) divided into three main categories: | | | | from a racquet. |
| - Power - suitable for beginners and middle | | | | |