In order to play the best game you can, you must have the right equipment. Of course, your racquet is the most important piece of tennis equipment you will ever buy.
Tennis racquets are divided into three main categories:
Power racquets - which are most suitable for beginners and middle intermediates.
Tweener racquets - which are best suited for intermediate to advanced players.
Control racquets - made especially for more advanced players.
For those who are either new at the game of tennis, or only play periodically, a power racquet is best. Designed to accommodate those with weaker, shorter strokes, the power racket features a larger head, which creates a larger hitting spot, which gives the racquet more power. A heavier head, or balance, also gives these racquets more maneuverability, making it easier for those with little training to play a decent game right form the start.
Tweener racquets are lighter, and may feature a larger or smaller head, depending on the type of racquet chosen. These racquets are usually longer than the power racquet, which offers more control and power, especially for handling groundstrokes.
Those with more training and experience on the court may find a control racquet to offer the most control and added precision. Although they do not feature the same amount of power as their counterparts, Control racquets usually feature smaller head sizes and heavier weights.
When choosing a tennis racquet it's important to also check out their weight, balance, frame size, and length in order to choose the correct one for your body size, and playing ability. Check with your instructor a qualified salesperson to see which size is best for your size, weight and playing ability.
As is the case when choosing an adult racquet, children must be fitted with the correct style and size in order to play properly.
When choosing a tennis racquet for you budding tennis pro, follow these important buying tips:
-Children five years or younger and/or 3 feet 11 inches or shorter, need a junior sized racquet featuring a frame between 19 and 21 inches.
-Children ages five and six and/or 3 feet 11 inches need a light weight racquet of 7 ounces and a head size of 91 sq. in. Grip size should run about 3 and 3/4 inches.
-Children 6-8 and/or 3 foot 11 inches to 4 foot 6 inches should use a 23-inch frame.
-Those over 4 foot 2 inches, should be using a 25 inch frame with about a 100 square inch head (or more). This size is especially good for junior players who may be getting close to needing an adult size racquet, but still needs the lighter weight, balance, and maneuverability of a junior tennis racquet.
-26" frame with a weight of 8 ounces is good for children 8 to 12 years of age and around 4 foot 6 to 5 feet tall.
