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SUMMER & FALL SPECIAL !
FREE tennis strings & stringing
with the purchase of a BABOLAT racquet !!
(Offer applies to all Babolat strings except gut.)
Offer good until November 30, 2006
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Tennis Racquets
BABOLAT Tennis Racquets:
  High Performance Players
  Dedicated Players
  Recreational Players
  Junior Players (ages 3-12)

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Learn About Tennis Racquets

Two main topics about tennis racquets are discussed below -- "Characteristics of Tennis Racquets" and "Categories of Tennis Racquets." The first helps players learn how different variables of racquet construction impact the racquet's performance. The second helps players choose which category of racquets make the most sense for them.

Characteristics of Tennis Racquets

Several variables impact the performance of tennis racquets: (1) racquet head size, (2) weight & balance, (3) racquet length, (4) frame stiffness, and (5) the string pattern. These are the standard characteristics that all racquet companies present in their product descriptions. Below is a very brief discussion of each of these 5 topics.


Racquet Head Size

The head size of racquets is measured in square inches. While the full range goes from about 85 to 135 square inches, the most common range is 95 to 110 (midplus & oversize heads). There are four main categories of head sizes:

Mid Size: 85 to 94 square inches
Midplus: 95 to 104 square inches
Oversize: 105 to 114 square inches
Super Oversize: 115 to 135 square inches

Listed below are some generalizations about racquet head sizes with regard to how the different sizes impact performance.

1. Racquets with larger heads offer more power (because the larger stringbed creates more trampoline effect).
2. Racquets with larger heads have a larger stringbed and therefore offer a bigger sweetspot for off-center hits.
3. Racquets with smaller heads have a smaller stringbed, which offers more control ... and a smaller sweetspot.
4. Racquets with larger heads are generally designed to be lighter in weight to ensure maneuverability.
5. Racquets with larger heads are generally designed to be head-heavy to ensure more power despite the lighter frame.

Racquet Weight & Balance

The frame weight of production racquets ranges from about 8 to 12 ounces. Most adults stay within the 9 to 10 range. Racquets are designed to be "head heavy" or "even balance" or "head light." Some general comments about weight and balance are listed below.

1. Heavier racquets (10 to 11 oz. frames) are more powerful.
2. Heavier racquets (10 to 11 oz. frames) are more stable during a stroke.
3. Lighter racquets (8 to 9 oz. frames) are more maneuverable.
4. "Head heavy" racquets are more powerful.
5. "Head light" racquets are more maneuverable.
6. Heavier racquets (10 to 11 oz. frames) are usually designed to be "head light" in order to offset the heavier frame.
7. Lighter racquets (8 to 9 oz. frames) are usually designed to be "head heavy" in order to offset the lighter frame.

As you can see from the design offsets above, on some frames racquet companies will try to create frames that are compromizes between their weight and their head balance. Many elite players will add weights to their frames in order to customize the racquet to meet their preferences.

Racquet Length

The legal length for tennis racquets is 27 to 29 inches, but 27" is the most common. Many of the advanced frames go up to 27.5 to 28 inches. Few frames on the market are over 28 inches. Below are some generalizations:

1. Longer racquets offer more reach.
2. Longer racquets offer more leverage (power) for serves and overheads.
3. Usually longer racquets are designed to be slightly lighter to keep them maneuverable despite the longer length.
4. Shorter racquets are more maneuverable.

Frame Stiffness

The stiffness of a frame impacts the playing performance of a frame significantly. Flexible racquets will absorb energy from the ball, while stiff racquets will not. Each results in different playing characteristics of the frame. Some generalizations follow:

1. Stiff frames are more powerful because they don't absorb the energy from the ball.
2. Flexible frames are more comfortable because they do absorb energry from the ball.
3. Stiff frames tend to pass on the vibrations from the ball impact to the arm joints.
4. Thicker frames are stiffer frames.
5. Thinner frames are more flexible frames,

String Pattern

The string pattern of a racquet frame impacts ball spin, power and string durability by the way the ball imbeds itself into the stringbed upon impact. The standard number of main strings to cross stings is 16/19. But, racquet companies have been quite creative in offering different string patterns in an effort to produce a different feel for the ball. Some frames will have 16/20 main-to-cross strings, 18/20 or 18/19. Also, the pattern itself might vary. For example, strings might be closer together in the sweetspot, but wider apart outside the center of the racquet. Here are some generalizations:

1. An open string pattern allows more bite on the ball, and therefore more spin.
2. An open string pattern offers more deflection of the ball, and therefore more rebound, or power.
3. An open string pattern offers less string durability because the strings slide and wear more.
4. A tight string pattern offers less rebound (less power), which produces more control.
5. A tight string pattern prevents strings from sliding, which produces more string durability.


Categories of Tennis Racquets

Racquet manufacturers tend to divide their frames into 3 general categories of playability, which help players choose the right frames. Under each category listed below are the main, differentiating characteristics of the different frames.

Power Racquets
(Sometimes called "Game Improvement Racquets")

PLAYER TYPE: Average recreational players (NTRP: 2.0 to 3.5)

1. HEAD SIZE: Oversize (105 to 114 square inches) & Super Oversize (115 to 135 square inches).
2. WEIGHT: Light weight 8 to 9 oz. (i.e., under 10 oz.).
3. LENGTH: Longer frames (27 to 29 inches).
4. STIFFNESS: Stiffer -- for more power.
5. BALANCE: "Head heavy" to "even balance" (because the racquets are light, they need to be "head heavy" to compensate).

Control Racquets
(Sometimes called "Players' Racquets")

PLAYER TYPE: Professionals, high-level club players, college team players (NTRP: 5.5 to 7.0)
[They need a low power racquet because they are good enough to supply their own power.]

1. HEAD SIZE: Midsize (85 to 94 square inches) or small Midplus (95 to 98 square inches).
2. WEIGHT: Heavy 11.5 to 13 oz.
3. LENGTH: Longer frames (27.5 to 28 inches).
4. STIFFNESS: thinner, more flexible beams -- for more control.
5. BALANCE: "Head light" (because the racquets are heavy, they need a lighter head for more maneuverability).

In-Betweener Racquets
(Sometimes called "Tweeners")

PLAYER TYPE: Advanced club players (NTRP: 3.5 to 5.5)

1. HEAD SIZE: Midplus heads (95 to 104 square inches).
2. WEIGHT: Medium weight (9.5 to 11 oz.).
3. LENGTH: Medium frames (27 to 28 inches).
4. STIFFNESS: Medium stiffness -- for a nice combination of power and control.
5. BALANCE: Medium -- slightly "head light" to slightly "head heavy."

NOTE: Many of the top level players will start with an "In-Betweener Racquet," then customize it by adding weights to the top of the frame and/or the sides of the frame and/or the bottom of the frame, thus turning it into a "Control Racquet."