I have created a new vlog about this seemingly bottomless topic: How to choose the right racquet. Are you happy with yours?
This is part 1 of a number of videos about this topic. It can get quite complicated, especially considering that we’re all different and that there are countless of racquet brands, lines and models out there. If you want to watch my vlog on How to choose the right racquet, please check out my YouTube channel or just watch in the player below.
I’m very keen to hear about your racquet situation. Are you happy with your racquet? What are you missing?
How to choose the right racquet part 2
Are there any questions you have for the upcoming videos in this series? What are your key frustrations about finding a good racquet choice for you? It can feel like a never-ending search at times, but I hope that the content I create can help you in some way.
If you need personalized help, please consider getting a Tennisnerd consultation. I offer an email consultation and a racquet/string consultation via video call (Zoom, Whatsapp, Skype etc). I would also recommend recording yourself play so you can analyze your own game.
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The thing that I find difficult is that there are few opportunities to compare rackets side by side. Usually one can borrow 1 or 2 demo rackets at a time, but it is rare to find a situation where you can line up 10-15 different frames (with similar strings) for a rapid assessment. Conversely, in golf, manufacturers regularly visit different golf clubs giving ‘Demo-Days’ where all their wares are available to try on the range, in your own time. These normally involve more than one manufacturere, so you can easily try 10-20 different types of golf club.
I would like to visit a tennis shop that has a full size hitting wall and you can pay £10 or so to try as many frames as you like for say 30-mins, and you get your £10 back if you buy a frame. I think if you hitted the latest 10-20 frames in one session you would home in on your preferred stick rapidly, rather than constantly wondering what was out there.
I think that’s a great idea to have a hitting wall or some kind of ball machine half-court solution where you can try hitting with racquets before you make a decision.
Great idea indeed. A tennis wall should be more available in general as well. Here in Finland, very few places offer tennis walls. Would be great for warm up before matches and of course practise for anyone.
Would be immensely valuable when buying a racquet. In general, I don’t think tennis retailers have any interest in customer satisfaction. Or perhaps it is a lack of incentive. Or knowledge.
I highly recommend the TN racquet advisory service, I ended up with at racquet I probably never would have considered and I’m happy with it. That said, on a bad day there’s no racquet on the planet that helps. I highly recommend you to commit to your racquet (and string set up), develop your technique and learn how the racquet responds. I’m a chronic racquet switcher but this time I’ve simply decided that the racquet is good enough and that the racquet is not the problem. Makes tennis more enjoyable.
Picked up the game again two years ago after a more than 25 year hiatus. Wanted to update from my Head Supremes (which are in the more flexible range and 12 ounces). Tried virtually every 95, 98 and 100 out there (mostly so called players racquets), but kept coming back to my old Heads. It surely is a racquet jungle out there. I’m quite sure the tennis nerd or a coach could have helped discover quickly what it’s taken me 2 years to find out on my own (I’m dense I guess). And that is, as an aging 3.5+ player who plays mostly doubles, with a now slower swing and reduced strength, I needed more real estate in the string bed, more free power, and a lighter stick. Almost by accident, I tried a Pure Drive 107 with a good multi filament in it. Sure, I lost some feel and control, but gained service power, return depth and volley consistency and pace (there’s always trade offs). And after all, doubles is mostly about service and net play. The multi helps offset the much stiffer racquet and plays comfortably. Anyway, the Babolat is now my racquet of choice and, in my ripe old age, I’m a happy tennis nerd cadet!