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.

Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Tennis Racket

To an average person or a new tennis player, the tennis racket may seem like a straightforward piece of equipment used for serving and hitting the ball. However, the tennis racket is more than just a tool for making sure that the ball goes over the net. There is a science to making it—and it is more complex than what most people think. The materials it is made of, the type of strings used, the manufacturer, your playing style, and many other factors must be considered to make sure that you can choose the right product. For this reason, it makes sense to do some research and keep the following things when choosing a tennis racket:

• Your skill level – While choosing a tennis racket determine your skill level before picking a racket as it can help you examine the quality of the product and how it can affect your game. Beginners do not need a pricey composite racket, and advanced players may need to invest in a high-end racket. A basic, inexpensive, oversized pre-strung racket should suit beginners just fine. Intermediate players may be able to improve their game with a small and lightweight racket (if they are about power play) or a large racket (if they play light).

• Mind the size of the head – Racket head size pertains to the strung area of the racket’s head. Players must pick a size that is suitable to their style of play and skill level, since it will determine the racket’s stability and power. A smaller head offers more control, and a bigger head increases power. If you have a powerful swing, but you lack control, you may want to consider a smaller head size. If you want more power to your swing, go for a larger head. New players typically get a racket with a larger head.

• Consider unstrung rackets – You could purchase a pre-strung tennis racket, but you can opt for an unstrung one, too, especially if you want a higher-quality for advanced or competitive play. You will have more freedom to customize the strings of an unstrung racket, too.

Best Holiday Gifts for A Tennis Player

The vast selection of tennis merchandise available can make choosing holiday gifts for a tennis player a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry—we can help. Use this guide to pick gifts that are affordable, practical, and will surely impress any tennis player no matter what skill level or playing style:

• Cleansing wipes – Scented on-the-go towels are practical for the tennis player who typically has a busy schedule and has to be somewhere else before and after practice. They can be used to freshen up quickly before moving on to the next appointment. Cleansing wipes can make a tennis player smell good even after a challenging tennis match on a hot day. They can be lifesavers when there is no time to shower or change. Be sure to pick a scent that suits your recipient or a scent that you think your tennis player will love. 

• A soothing hand cream – The hands of tennis players may feel sweaty and grimy after a match due to holding the tennis racket, making a soothing hand cream one of the best holiday gifts for them. Look for a cream that is made with shea butter, an efficient moisturizer that will leave their hands smelling fantastic and feeling smooth and soft.

• Sunscreen products – Tennis players, typically spend a lot of time outdoors during practice. Too much sun exposure can be harmful to their health and their skin. Hence, you can never go wrong with high-quality sunscreen as a holiday gift. Pick a sunscreen with a high SPF (preferably SPF 50 or higher), with age-defying antioxidants, vitamins, and moisturizers to keep skin healthy and younger-looking. Throw in an after-sun spray, too, so they can have a refreshing treat for their skin after spending hours under the blistering heat of the sun.

Some Biggest Tennis Training Mistakes

Practice and training are crucial in mastering tennis and becoming a better player. If you are serious about improving your game, avoid these biggest tennis training mistakes:

• Not being punctual – Are you always late for training sessions? Consistent tardiness will not only make your coach or trainer frustrated, but it can make them lose the motivation and energy to help you. If being late becomes a habit and you do not care about that at all, you could be wasting your money on training due to missed opportunities for a full lesson.

• Copying other players – There is nothing wrong with learning from other players, especially if you are a beginner tennis player, but be sure not to copy exactly everything they do. It is important to learn your own technique, use your own gear, and develop your own play style. Constantly changing techniques and tools may lead only to frustration and confusion.

• Getting advice from the wrong people – Do not listen to people who have no knowledge or experience on tennis, especially if they only bring you down or talk you out of playing. Work only with tennis pros and trainers who are much worth seeking direction and advice from.

• Being content with where you are – Some players tend to be content with their existing playing skill, resulting in them not being able to give or realize their best. To be the best and to improve, you need to avoid going with the flow and continue working hard. Change this attitude by having a more positive outlook and by setting goals to keep you motivated.

• Thinking you are better than what you really are – If you do not address your weaknesses, then you will fail. Be sure to remain humble and be honest with yourself. Get help when needed, and find ways to constantly improve yourself.

Best 5 Tennis Grand Slam Final Moments

Tennis Grand Slam tournaments are the four majors, which consists of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. These are some of the most important events in the world of tennis every year, although every tournament is played only in over a span of two weeks.  Every Grand Slam tournament has something exciting to offer to spectators and avid tennis fans alike. Here are the best five tennis Grand Slam final moments in no particular order:

1. Federer VS Nadal in Wimbledon 2008 Final – The match began with a long run of good play and consecutive wins for Nadal, yet it showed the best from Federer, too. Federer made six straight on Grand Slams and won four. He came out tight and dropped early breaks, losing the first two sets, then fighting it out in a tie match (2-2). The fourth set was a tiebreaker, which spanned for 20 minutes as both players unleashed their best shots under pressure.

2. Nadal VS Djokovic in the Australian Open Final in 2012 – Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s match was the longest and most exciting Grand Slam final. Djokovic’s brilliance and Nadal’s determination and will were showcased in every rally. The match was a record-breaking five hours and 53 minutes in Grand Slam history.

3. Federer VS Roddick in the 2009 Wimbledon Final – This entertaining and fight match was entertaining to watch. Roger Federer won, which served as his comeback after losing to Nadal the previous year.

4. Lendl VS John McEnroe in the 1984 French Open – This one is a classic, back when John McEnroe was at the height of his career. Both he and Ivan Lendl disliked each other, resulting in a thrilling match for spectators and fans. McEnroe played flawlessly for two sets, but Lendl was able to catch up, resulting in a 5-7.

5. Sampras VS Agassi in the 2001 US Open – This Grand Slam match went four straight sets with both players keeping up with their serves. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi had different styles of play (i.e. one-handed backhand versus two-handed backhand, serve and volley versus power baseline.) and contrasting personalities, resulting in an entertaining match.

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.

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