Buying a new tennis racquet is a decision every player should take very seriously.  Even the slightest change or tweak to a racquet frame can throw a player’s game into complete disarray.  For first time racquet shoppers, a simple and cheap racquet from the local sports shop is your best bet.  You don’t have enough experience yet to really make an informed decision as to what type of racquet will be best for your game.  Players that are considering upgrading their current racquet should pay close attention to things like head size, power, and control that the new racquet can offer them.

Choosing a Racquet Based on Skill Level

The first thing to consider when buying a racquet is your level of skill.  The easiest standard to go by is the NTRP rating system that most tennis players are already familiar with.  There are racquets made specifically for beginners, but it becomes a more difficult task to judge frames that are either in the middle or on the more advanced side of the rating.  The Roger Federer racqeut, Wilson BLX Six.One Tour, for example is a racquet designed specifically for very advanced players.  

The biggest factor in making one racquet more advanced than another is the combination of head size and weight.  The Wilson BLX comes in a relatively small head size and is actually quite heavy by today’s standard.  The benefit of more weight and a smaller head is a huge amount of control on almost every single shot.  Ground strokes and volleys will feel crisp and go exactly where you want them.  The problem is that only an advanced player will feel these benefits from such a racquet.  The beginning player will be unable to make good contact on a smaller racquet head consistently.

Demo Before you Buy

There is a great process when shopping for and buying racquets called demoing.  When you demo a racquet you get to try it out for free before making a purchase.  Most pro shops will be happy to demo out equipment because it will encourage making a sale.  They have been around tennis for a long time and understand that someone shopping for a new racquet doesn’t want to just buy it without trying it out.  One thing to be careful of when demoing is to take good care of the racquet.  The equipment isn’t yours so don’t damage it unnecessarily.  

Also, return the equipment in a timely manner and try not to give the pro any reason to think you are taking advantage of him.  Demoing is a great tool when picking a racquet, and you should try as many as you need to come to a good decision, but don’t hoard a bunch of racquets that aren’t yours.  Some players seem to think it’s OK to essentially live off a supply of demo racquets, but this isn’t fair to other players that might want to try the equipment or to the pro.  Do your homework when picking a racquet so you can enjoy playing tennis knowing that you made a great decision.

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