Material and Tennis Rackets

When searching for the right tennis racquet, you are likely to come across recommendations involving rackets made with different kinds of materials. Tennis rackets used to be made of wood. Nowadays, you will find them in a wide range of materials that are aimed to maximize durability and performance. Knowing and understanding the type and qualities of each material used in tennis rackets can help you make an informed decision when choosing the best tennis racquet. Here is a brief list of the types of materials used in tennis rackets:

• Graphite – Most lightweight frames are made of 100 percent graphite or with a composite like fiberglass, titanium, tungsten, Kevlar, and copper. Pure graphite will have a stiffer feel, so they are ideal for players who can hit with a lot of power. Composite graphite tennis racquet frames are more flexible and generate less vibration, making them suitable for beginners.

• Kevlar and boron – While similar to graphite, a tennis racquet frame that is made of boron and Kevlar can transmit vibrations readily. They are durable, but less forgiving compared to aluminum and graphite, making them best for more experienced players who have mastered control.

• Aluminum – If you find graphite tennis rackets expensive, aluminum should be a good alternative.  Most entry-level rackets are made of this material, but they are typically heavier compared to graphite. They are ideal for recreational players, too. Aluminum frames are either bi-hollow or tubular, and the shape should determine their durability and flexibility. They provide a moderate level of feel and power. Bi-hollow frames are ideal for beginners, while tubular aluminum frames are ideal for experienced players who can hit with more power.

• Tungsten and titanium – Some tennis racquet manufacturers build racket frames with tungsten and titanium, which are typically combined with carbon fiber or graphite to make the product stiffer as necessary.

Tennis 101 – How to Hit the Perfect Serve as A Beginner

Learning how to hit a perfect serve is crucial to a beginner tennis player. Tennis rackets for beginners can help you generate more power to hit the ball and send it over the net, so they have larger heads and a bigger sweet spot compared to rackets for intermediate and advanced players. However, you need to make sure that you can hit well, too. Here are some of the things you should consider to hit the perfect serve, even as a beginner:

• Make sure you have the correct stance – All strokes start from the ground up, and to hit a perfect serve, you need to stand sideways, look down, and make sure that your feet are around shoulder width apart. Turn your front foot (right for left-handed players, and left for right-handed players) to make it point towards the net.

• Toss the ball consistently – A consistent toss is key to a good serve, so practice your tossing. If you are right-handed, place the end of your racket on the ground before your left foot while the racket is pointed at one o’clock. Keep your tossing arm straight. Your shoulder should act like a hinge, so you can toss the ball up to make it land on your racket’s face. The height of your toss must be slightly higher than what you can reach with your racket at full extension. If you are left-handed, do everything aforementioned, but switch the arms and feet.

• Practice throwing the tennis ball – The way you serve a ball is considered similar to the way you throw things, except you are throwing the racket at the tennis ball. You can achieve a smoother throwing motion by taking one tennis ball for each hand and toss one at one o’clock before tossing the second ball at it. Throw the ball when the toss has reached its peak, and keep practicing until you can achieve contact multiple times.