Showing posts with label how to choose a tennis racket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to choose a tennis racket. Show all posts

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

7 Benefits of Babolat Tennis Racquets

Babolat is one of the top brands you will encounter when choosing a tennis racket, and for many good reasons. The Babolat tennis racquets are preferred by professional tennis players and aspiring champions for its technology and innovative features. To understand why it may be the best tennis racquet for you, here are seven benefits of a Babolat racquet:

1. It comes with features that let you play well – Tennis racquets by Babolat are developed with the skill levels and needs of every type of player in mind. Hence, you should be able to find the perfect racquet that matches your play style, skill, and preferred level of comfort.

2. Custom racquets for advanced needs – AeroPro and Pure Aero are recommended for players who require more spin and pace on the court. A Babolat tennis racquet from any of those lines feature a combination of a lively and firm beam and a speedy feel, so you can play aggressively. The racquets come in a variety of weights to suit every level of ability.

3. More feel and control – Babolat came up with the Hybrid Beam Construction in their Pure Strike series to provide more control and feel. Hence, you get impressive stability despite the weight, and the FSI technology in 2016 models optimize the string spacing for better power and spin.

4. More power – Check out the Pure Drive series if you are looking for a Babolat tennis racquet that can give you more power. Pure Drive racquets have a lively and thick beam, a fast feel, and an open string pattern to provide best in class speed, precision, power, and spin.

5. There are racquets for every player – Beginner and intermediate tennis players need a light and user-friendly racquet, which they can get from the Lite & Drive series. Babolat has a line of junior racquets for young competitors, too.

6. Technology – Babolat invented the VS string, and since then, they have been continuously innovating to produce the best breakthroughs while improving existing products, all while ensuring that their innovations can enhance player performance.

7. Versatility – Babolat came up with the ‘Smart’ tennis racquet called, ‘Connected Racquet’, which is designed for amateur and professional players alike. It has already been tested by top players like Rafael Nadal, Li Na, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The racquet acquires data about the player through chips and sensors in the handle, and it shows players a breakdown of incidents, such as why a forehand smash ended up on the net or why the serve went wide, so they can refer to it for improvement. It can collect information on the power of shots, the level of spin, technique, endurance, energy, consistency, and other factors.

Find Your Perfect Tennis Racket at Tennisracket.Me

Finding the perfect tennis racket will be one of the biggest hurdles you might encounter as a tennis player, whether you are starting out or have advanced to the intermediate stage. Even professionals may have difficulty in choosing a tennis racket due to the overwhelming amount of options available today. Moreover, the technologies used in modern tennis rackets may leave you confused when you have to compare them and find out what they do. You can scour the web, talk to your coach, and ask professional players for guidelines and tips on choosing the best tennis racket for you, or you can rely on an algorithm that can help you find the perfect tennis racket at Tennisracket.Me.

An entrepreneur, Mike Volkin and tech specialist, Thomas Jensen, are tennis players who are passionate about the sport and their game. They created Tennisracket.Me to make it easier for other players to find the right tennis racket based on algorithms and certain points. The site was born when Mike, a 4.5 singles player, was searching for a racket and explored the web for the newest rackets from different manufacturers. He is an experienced player, but he had difficulty in accurately knowing the swing speed, stiffness index, and other specs that can affect his game. Hence, he created a spreadsheet of those data points to be analyzed and looked up a service that can narrow down the selection of rackets he could pick from. Seeing that there was no such service, he got in touch with his friend, Thomas, who did some numbers on the spreadsheet and applied Excel programming to remove rackets that were unsuitable for Mike.

Mike and Thomas developed a proprietary algorithm to analyze thousands of data points and weigh them against one another to come up with the perfect tennis racket for you without any biases. Simply answer a few questions at Tennisracket.Me and you should be able to pick a racket in under two minutes.

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Difference Between Grass, Clay, and Synthetic Tennis Court

Did you know that the court surface used on the tennis court can significantly affect the way you play? There is a reason why Pete Sampras—who has won 14 major Grand Slams—has never won a grand slam on a clay court. In this blog, we discuss the remarkable differences between grass, clay, and synthetic tennis courts.

  • Grass court – Wimbledon has popularized grass courts, and the surface is considered the fastest because it is slippery. Grass makes the ball bounce lower because of the soft soil. Likewise, a grass court may cause the ball to bounce unpredictably because of the slightly uneven and softer grass surface. Because of the characteristics of this type of court, the ball tends to move faster with lower bounce, making it ideal for net players and those who have a good serve.

  • Clay court – The deep red hue is typically associated with French Open Championships. Clay courts are considered the slowest surface as it reduces the ball’s speed, minimizes the ball’s skid on the surface, and makes the ball bounce high. Hence, a clay courts reduces the speed of the ball that is hit by a hard-hitter as it slows the speed, so the opponent can return the shot easily. A clay court is typically ideal for baseline players and those who create a heavy spin.
  • Synthetic court – Hard courts are made of concrete or asphalt, and they are easier to maintain. They allow the ball to travel at a speed that is slower than it would on a grass court, yet faster than it would on a clay court. Moreover, hard courts allow the ball to bounce high and more predictably. The International Tennis Federation considers the hard court a good surface for all kinds of tennis players, the U.S Open is played on hard courts.

Tuesday, 20 September 2016

The Best All-Round Tennis Racket is…

We often get asked, what is the best all-round tennis racket. There are so many categories and so many styles of players, it would be extremely difficult to have one racket emerge as the best for everyone. But, let’s explore your question…

What is the best all-round tennis racket?

Tennis rackets are highly subjective pieces of equipment – what works for one player may not necessarily work for another, and we all have very different preferences. A racket which suits players of all ages, standards and styles, along with offering power, spin and maneuverability is, and always has been, a rare entity in the sport of tennis. However, the Babolat Pure Drive is exactly this. The manufacturers themselves are aware of its popularity and versatility, which explains why new models of this racket are constantly being produced year on year. The main advantage of this all-round racket is its ability to progress with a player; it will be as useful and appropriate for you as a beginner, as when you are an advanced and much-improved player, years later.

The weight of the racket could be comfortable for any player. The Pure Drive weighs in at 11.2oz when strung, which is neither too light nor too heavy. Somebody new to the game would undoubtedly be impressed by the mobility of the racket, particularly when at the net. Similarly, a player further along with their tennis development would recognize the Pure Drive’s speed, and the power it possesses which is actually more than one could expect. The head size of the racket is mid-plus at 100 square inches. This creates a nice blend of control and power, and much like the weight, this size is just right for everyone. It is large enough for those who require a bigger head to make clean contact with the ball, yet it is far from being oversized for those seeking maximum control of the ball – let us not forget that many pros on the ATP and WTA tour opt for 100 square inch heads.

It is common nowadays for rackets to focus upon one particular aspect of shot-making. For instance, some rackets aim to enhance power, others spin and so on. The beauty of the Pure Drive is that it appeals to all of our needs. The latest version of the Pure Drive has adopted FSI technology which has enlarged the sweet-spot on the racket and added greater feel upon the striking of the ball (which essentially allows the player to know whether or not they made good, solid contact). This upgrade has boosted the power and control of the racket. Its lightness gives players the freedom to fiercely whip their forehands with pace, and like most Babolat rackets, the string pattern ensures your game is not void of spin.

The Babolat Pure Drive is undoubtedly the best all-round tennis racket out there. This isn’t my view, it’s the opinion of thousands of players who’s love of this racket have led to its two decade existence. Young or old, professional or beginner, heavy-hitter or spin-master, the Pure Drive could be the racket for you, and will without question help all aspects of your game.
Note: This article is not supported or endorsed by Babolat, it is simply a recommendation.
Rackets Similar to the Babolat Pure Drive: Wilson Ultra 100, Yonex EZONE DR 98, Head Graphene XT Instinct MP.

Thursday, 28 July 2016

The Ultimate Tennis Racket Sizing Guide



When choosing a tennis racket size, there are three things that need to be considered: the length of the racket, and the size of the grip and the head. This guide will explain how exactly to work out what grip size, head size and racket length is most suitable for you, to ensure you are the best you can possibly be out on the court.

Grip Size

Calculating your grip size is a very easy process, and it is also useful to know that a racket’s grip size can be altered by adding or removing grips.

To measure your grip size, all that is required is your hand and a ruler. Simply place the ruler on the palm of your dominant hand (the hand you use for your forehand) and horizontally align it with the gap between your thumb and index finger. Point the ruler vertically, and measure its length up to your ring finger in inches. Then, use the chart below to determine your grip size:

4 inches      = Grip Size 0

4 1/8 inches = Grip Size 1

4 1/4 inches = Grip Size 2

4 3/8 inches = Grip Size 3

4 1/2 inches = Grip Size 4

4 5/8 inches = Grip Size 5

Racket Length

Surprisingly, the matter of racket length for adults is not a greatly complicated subject. Anyone 150cm or taller is advised to use a 27 inch racket. There are oversized rackets made longer than 27 inches, but ultimately it comes down to the individual to decide whether or not they wish to go higher than the standard racket length. The advantage of longer rackets is their increased reach and power, but it is important to remember that the feel of oversized rackets can often be strange and unnatural. Considering this, it is best to adopt a “try before you buy” philosophy, and if a racket feels good and right in your hands, then you can invest in confidence.

Racket length for children is not such a straightforward issue. If younger players start early in the game, then they will need new rackets fairly regularly to accommodate their height growth and tennis development. The size guide below shows the appropriate racket length for children, and anyone under 150cm:

Below 105cm = Size 19

105-118cm = Size 21

118-135cm = Size 23

135-150cm (aged 9-10) = Size 25

135-150cm (aged 11-12) = Size 26

Above 150cm = Size 27

Note: Racket length is measured in inches

Head Size

The head of the racket is the part of the racket covered by the strings. As with the length of the racket, the head size also boils down to personal preference, however there are advised sizes to follow based on your tennis ability.

Beginners should opt for oversized rackets which normally are above 105 square inches. Oversized rackets have the biggest head size of all, and provide beginners with a great deal of power to assist them in getting the ball over the net when they are new to the game.

Intermediates would be wise to purchase mid-plus head sized rackets, which range between 95-105 square inches. Mid-plus rackets give players a nice blend of power and control at a stage where they will be beginning to develop these two skills to a good level.

Advanced players require mid-sized rackets, below 95 square inches. These rackets offer increased control, but are difficult to use compared with larger rackets. Players using mid-sized rackets have the ability to create all their own power through their racket speed and timing.

Although this head size guide is accurate and helpful, it certainly does not apply to everyone. Even in the professional game, players such as Andre Agassi chose oversized rackets instead of mid-plus, whereas others like Roger Federer preferred rackets around the 95 square inch mark.

The decision for the size of your rackets and grips is entirely yours, but be sure to choose wisely and sensibly.

Blog Source URL: http://tennisracket.me/blog/the-ultimate-tennis-racket-sizing-guide/