Truly, only you can choose the right racket for you. There are so many different rackets and too much subjectivity and psychology involved in selecting the perfect racket. The manufacturers expound on this and that about the intricacies of their racket and strings which leaves your head whirling. In their best salesmanship mode they advise that if you are a control player use this racket, a power player that one, a net rusher still another… ah! And a baseline player calls for yet another type of racket. What happens if you are all of these: a power player with control that plays from the baseline but ventures to the net when necessary? I guess you would be called Roger Federer. Maybe we all should use his racket.
The bottom line is, you can follow some of the manufacturer’s guidelines but that does not mean this will be the miracle racket for you. Be skeptical of the advantages they proclaim. Remember, tennis is a game of feel. Selecting a racket is extremely personal. Most players have a certain feel from years of playing with a particular racket. The best approach is to keep trying different rackets until you find the one with the same feel that is comfortable. This could take time, so be patient and eventually – eureka! – you found it! Until the magic moment arrives stay with your normal racket and demo rackets here and there. You may find you prefer the racket you are using. One of the players at my club purchases his racket from eBay because it is no longer available from the manufacturer. The last I spoke with him he had purchased eight rackets. That should last him until Wimbledon 2050!
Being in the tennis business I have heard and seen just about everything about rackets. One player has a racket she swears has cleared up her tennis elbow. Another player uses that same racket and gets tennis elbow! Players talk about a racket that offers excellent control. Another player uses that racket and sprays the balls everywhere.
THE TRUTH
Try different rackets for power and control if you wish, but like over-thinking the technical end of a game, don’t over-think when selecting a racket. Use common sense. Ultimately, it is you that controls the mind, that controls the hand, that holds the racket, that makes a winner!
Your Tennis Pro,
Tom Veneziano
