Tips for Choosing the Best Racquet to Benefit Your Playstyle

There are literally thousands of different tennis rackets to choose from, and yet it’s extremely rare for two rackets to play exactly the same. A slightly thicker beam or even an extra gram of weight can massively affect your performance on the court.

Weight and Balance

Tennis rackets weigh anywhere from 245 grams (super lightweight) to 340 grams (super heavy). Choosing something too light or too heavy for you can negatively affect your game. Worse, it might cause arm injuries.

Professional racquet stringers in sports shops usually have machines that can determine the weight, balance, and swing weight of a racket. These machines are equipped with gauges and sensors that provide accurate measurements of a racket's balance. Tennis rackets with balance points above 330mm are head-heavy. Those in the 315 to 330mm range are balanced, and those under 315mm are head light.

So which one should you choose? Head-heavy racquets are recommended for baseline players as well as beginners. Advanced players typically prefer a more balanced or head-light racquet that is more maneuverable, in general. Head-light rackets are also easier to use for net play and volleying. Head-heavy rackets, on the other hand, provide more power. They also help you hit top spin. A balanced tennis racket can provide a bit of both, and are usually preferred by base-liners at the back of the court.

The Takeaway

If you’re a beginner player and want something basic, buy a balanced racquet preferably with an oversized head. A 27-inch lightweight racquet with a head that’s at least 106 square inches is ideal. Make sure you’re the grip size suits you, too. Are you a power hitter? You might play better with a smaller-head racquet that helps to prevent you from swinging too heavy. The lighter head gives you more control.