How to choose a tennis racket

There are different approaches to choosing a tennis racket: you could simply opt for the cheapest, the prettiest, or the first one you happen to see. Or you could try and find one that suits your physique and game. Since you're reading this article I guess you fall into the latter category. So let's identify the different factors that give a racket its particular characteristics, and which ones are going to be the most important for your particular style of play.

The following guide is not just relevant to Wilson tennis rackets, but indeed to the approach to buying any racket, since we're talking generalities rather than recommending specific models in this article.

Now, before we get too technical, ask yourself what you want from your new tennis racket - more power? touch and control? Are you primarily a baseline or net player? Or do you need all-court versatility?

Racket weight

Rackets vary in weight from around 220g to around 340g. Generally speaking lighter rackets promote more powerful shots (because it's easier to generate more racket head speed), while heavier rackets give you more control as there is less chance the mass and energy of the ball will throw your swing off course.

So if your shots are lacking in power, opt for a lighter racket, whereas if you're able to generate plenty of pace but struggle to control where your shots land, consider going for something a bit heavier.

Racket balance

Closely related to this is the issue of a racket's balance. In an effort to reduce racket weight and thus improve manoeuvrability, Wilson started experimenting with head-heavy rackets with their Hammer technology. The theory is that they can reduce overall weight in the handle area, while retaining weight in the hitting area without compromising a racket's power - ideal for younger players and females in particular. The best way to evaluate this is to try out different rackets to see how they feel.

Racket length

Most adult rackets are 27 inches long, but you can get ones up to 29 inches in length. Longer rackets offer greater reach and leverage, but can be more unwieldy - and for this reason they tend to be slightly lighter than standard length equivalents. In my opinion, most players should opt for standard length rackets unless there is a compelling reason why you need something longer (if you're exceptionally tall, for example). Obviously if you're a junior, go for something manageable, that you won't be scraping the ground with on every shot.

Head size and sweet spot

The most dramatic advance in racket technology in the last couple of decades has been in the area of head size - compare the wooden rackets of the 1970's with a modern racket and you'll see what I mean. A larger head and correspondingly larger hitting area translate to more power and room for error, which is what most beginner to intermediate players need. More accomplished players tend to opt for smaller heads which give them more control.

String tension

String tension is another factor that has an effect on the power of shots produced by a tennis racket - the looser strung your racket is, the more power it can generate, whereas tighter strings give you more control. Strings also tend to lose some of their tension over time as they become stretched, so a racket may become more springy as it ages.

Now, I'm aware that most recreational players do not have a bag full of identical rackets all strung at different tensions like the pro's do, nor do we get our rackets restrung every other week, so to a large extent this is a moot point. But perhaps it's handy to bear in mind next time you do need to get a restring.

Stringing patterns

You may not know this, but some rackets have more strings than others! "Open" string patterns have the strings spaced wider apart, resulting in greater deflection of the strings on contact with the ball. This allows you to put more spin on the ball, and hit with greater power, but at the cost of some control (as with looser strings).

"Closed" string patterns are more dense, so the ball doesn't sink as far into the strings on impact, giving you more control. The other benefit is the strings don't move around as much and thus don't wear out as quickly.

Racket grip

It's important to ensure your grip size is correct, to minimise the chances of your racket spinning around in your hand as you make contact with the ball. Ideally your fingers should wrap most of the way around, with just a small gap between your fingertips and the ball of your thumb.

To thicken up a grip that's too small, try wrapping an extra overgrip around your racket's handle (just make sure it's tight and secure or the racket may move under it as you hit the ball).

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of compromises involved in choosing a racket that suits you, and what's right for you will not necessarily be right for someone else. Hopefully this article has given you some idea of what to look for so you can make an informed decision.

Wilson racket technology

The product specs on Wilson tennis rackets are enough to make your head spin: nCode technology, Triad technology with Iso.Zorb, Hyper Carbon, Dual Taper Beam, Wilson Stretch, Wilson Hammer, Karophite Black ... the list goes on and on. But what does it all mean, and more importantly, will it help your game?

I'm not going to try and explain all the different technologies because a) I don't know enough about them myself, and b) you can get that information from the manufacturer's website if you're really interested. The cynic in me says all this is pure marketing BS, designed to pull the wool over the consumer's eyes and make us think the product is better than it really is. But I do believe that Wilson knows a lot about making rackets!

Will it help your game?

We all know that Roger Federer, whom many believe to be the greatest tennis player of all time, plays with a Wilson racket. As did Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and many other past and current tennis stars. And no doubt Wilson pays them a lot of money to do so, but the fact is these guys and gals wouldn't use them if they were detrimental to their chances of success. So at the very least we can say Wilson rackets are no worse than Slazenger, Dunlop, Babolat or Head rackets.

But does that mean that you or I will automatically become better players by playing with one ourselves (because remember: there's also the small matters of natural talent, good coaching from an early age, and of course countless hours on the practice courts that make these players the champions they are). Well yes, I do believe that choosing the right racket can make a positive difference to the average recreational player's game.

Advances in racket technology

There is no doubt that racket technology has come a long way in the last 30 years or so. Think back to the Borg era when wooden rackets were all the rage; these dictated that tennis was a game of touch and finesse as it just wasn't possible to get the kind of power that we're so used to seeing nowadays; slice and low bounce were the order of the day. Then metal rackets were introduced and the change was dramatic - the increased power and bigger sweet spots on these rackets created a new breed of player who could simply overpower their opponents on the court.

Today the choice is not as stark, but choosing an inferior racket can certainly put you at a disadvantage if your opponents are all using better ones.
So yes, your choice of racket can certainly make a difference. Today's larger heads with their bigger sweet spots are a lot more forgiving for the average recreational or club player. So irrespective of the marketing hype, know that Wilson's lighter, more powerful rackets will ensure you're not left behind in the tennis arms race. And no, it doesn't really matter what you call the particular variety of space-age materials used in their construction!