When investing in a racket, it’s important to know what exactly you should be looking for. Think carefully about the size, frame, beam and grip size, according to the strengths and weaknesses of your game, as well as your general level of ability.
The racket
The first thing to think about is the racket itself. Don’t buy anything made from metal or aluminium that costs less than £70. If possible, you should be looking to pay at least £100. The frame should be made from graphite fibres, and it shouldn’t weigh less than 270g for women or less than 300g for men. The only way to make a good saving on your racket is to buy second-hand. The best rackets for men include the Head Radical MP, Prince EX03 Rebel or Graphite, Babolat Aeropro Drive and Wilson K Factor Six One. Great women’s rackets include the Babolat Aerostorm, the Wilson K Blade Team, the Head Airflow Women’s Series and the Yonex range.
Next, you need to think about the head of the racket. The basic rule is the bigger the head, the more power you will generate. By increasing the size of the racket head, you increase the sweet spot [the most effective area of the racket when hitting, usually the centre of the racket]. Smaller heads have more control, because the sweet spot is more concentrated. Around 95 to 105 sq inches heads are a good starting point for adults. The same applies to the width of the racket beam: a wider beam will give you more power, while a thinner beam allows for better control. Mid-beam rackets are best for beginners.
The grips on rackets come in sizes from zero to five. The size you choose is a matter of personal preference, but as a general rule, the smaller the hand, the lower the number. Women tend to be a two/three and men a four. Grip five is solely for people with exceptionally large hands, while only children should be using a size zero. Make sure the grip is not worn or dirty, which can cause your hands to slip and change the accuracy of your shot. If your grip is the correct size, you should be able to fit the index finger of your non-racket hand between your fingers and thumb on the racket. Any more or less than this could lead to you straining yourself during play.
The final consideration to make is about the racket’s weight and balance. Don’t use a swing of the racket in the shop as an indicator that it’s right for you; rackets can feel significantly different when hitting a ball. If the racket is too light in your hand, its balance point (the distribution of weight along the length of the racket) is uneven. If you are trying to hit the ball hard with a light racket you have to overuse your arm, which could cause tennis elbow. A racket should have neutral balance, so that when you hold the racket in the middle it doesn’t feel too heavy one way or the other.
An advanced male player should use a racket with a headsize of about 95 square inches and a weight of 330g. The racket should have a neutral or handle-heavy balance with grip size three to five. The beam should have a width of 19/24mm. The guidelines for advanced female players are the same, but the racket should weigh 315g. Intermediate women should be using a racket weighing 280-300g, while intermediate men should aim for between 295 and 315g.
Children’s rackets start at 19 inches long, but bear in mind that anything below 25 inches is made of aluminium, designed for kids aged three to eight to use with a soft foam ball. Babolet does a good series for youngsters called the Ballfighter.
As your child becomes a stronger player, they should move on to a 25-inch graphite racket. Competent eight- to nine-year-olds should usually use a 26-inch frame, and 10- to 11-year-olds should progress to a 27-inch adult frame.
Intermediate and advanced junior players should use a graphite frame, which they should have restrung with multifilament strings by a professional. Never use monofilament strings on a child’s racket as they’re too stiff and may cause injury. Vantage does the best rackets for children at this level, but alternatives include the Prime Team 25 and the Wilson Six One 25.
Strings
All rackets in the UK come pre-strung. This is fine initially, but after a month of solid play, take the racket to a quality stringer (found in good sports shops or at your local club) to replace the strings. Players such as Roger Federer replace their strings daily, but even occasional players should replace them annually. If you play regularly, you should replace your strings every one to two months.
When restringing, intermediate players should use multifilament strings. Top brands include Technifibre Biphase, Wilson NXT and Babolat Addiction. A good choice for advanced players is the Babolat VS series of natural gut strings, while really advanced players tend to use monofilament strings (the Babolat Pro Hurricanes are popular).
Most intermediate and advanced players customise the string tension on their rackets. If you visit a professional stringer, this will set you back around £50. Higher string tension gives more control but less power, which can be beneficial for more experienced players.
Balls
Tennis balls are at their best for a period of two to six weeks, depending on use, after which time the pressure starts to go, so it’s best to buy in bulk. Reputable brands include Slazenger, Penn, Head, Wilson and Dunlop.
There is a range of colour-coded balls to encourage safe play among children aged five to 10. These soft balls are slow moving, less pressurised, and offer a fun, gentle introduction to tennis. The LTA’s general rule is that children under eight should use red balls (the lightest), under nines should use orange balls, the green balls are for under-10s, and children aged 11-plus should progress on to regular balls.
Clothing and footwear
Beginners should choose a shirt that will make the right impression at a tennis club but that can also be worn socially. Fred Perry polo shirts are a staple, but you might want to invest in a shirt such as the Adidas Climacool, which is made of material that helps dispel moisture and keep you cool. Women will also need to invest in a comfortable sports bra.
Make sure you buy shorts with pockets so you have somewhere to keep your spare balls. The Nike Athlete woven men’s tennis shorts are a good choice. For women, cotton lycra shorts are the best bet. They should be loose around the thigh and also have pockets. To look more professional, you might try a pleated skirt with built-in shorts.
Because tennis requires multi-directional movement, only shoes designed specifically for the sport will support your feet in the right way. Asics trainers are a cheap and comfortable starting point, although they tend to wear out quickly. K-Swiss are very durable, but not as soft as the Asics range.
To begin with, children can play in the plimsolls they use for PE at school. But as they become more advanced, you might want to look at alternatives from Wilson, Adidas, Asics and, if you can track them down, Babolat, which all offer a good range of footwear for juniors.
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