Me and my friends have been playing alot of tennis lately. I bought some cheap 15 dollar racket from Walmart. Now I'm wanting to get one of those high end ones, but dont know anything about em. Which are the best kind to get? I prefer as light as possible. What should I look for when I get one? Also, what kind of balls are the best to get? And does getting a more expensive racket help your game at all?
I suggest doing a web search to look for reviews. Also, a good racquet won't automatically make you a better tennis player. I would also suggest getting a mid-level racquet before you shell out the big bucks for a top of the line model.
Wilson is handsdown the best ball. You can also get a pump (pressurizing) lids that are dorky, but they do work pretty well, if you don't play everyday, and want to re-use the balls. I'm not up on the rackets, as I've been using the same racket for over 10yrs (Wilson's first graphic ProStaff--the one Sampras uses). That's probably the heaviest racket around, and you have to special order it; it is around $110-120. Wilson used to make the same rackets each year and only add to the line infrequently. Now, for awhile, the make rackets like bball shoes,,,a new line every year. Most all the Rackets are gimmicks. If you are sold on tennis, get yourself a good one that you'll like for awhile. The best rackets generally cannot be bought in big retail stores. I recommend going to a real Tennis club Pro Shop and tell the Pro that you are thinking about taking lessons, and need help selecting a Racket. They'll give you good advice and lets you use a demo for awhile. I'm partial to Wilson and Head, because they traditioally make the best serve and volley rackets. I also don't like the Prince-style oversized rackets. They have a tendency to have a "trampoline" effect. They have a large sweet-spot, but when you hit it off center (even if it is in the sweet spot) the ball bounces weird off from the trajectory of the swing, like you do when you jump on a trampoline off-center and it throws you back towards the center rather than straight up. Also, don't underesimate how important the strings are. Don't let them talk you into gut. That is only for tournament players who play everday. It goes bad very quickly, and is very expensive. Get a good synthetic gut. Around $25-30, and have a real pro shop string it for you.
I have a head racket. I bought it at Academy. I think Wilson makes the best racket. Those Hammer ones. I think they can hit hard, and they feel really light too.
In Houston, try tennisexpress.com. The best place I've found. Anyone else know of other good, reasonable tennis shops in Houston?
BAH, Penn makes the best ball. Actually, depends on what surface, but the ATP men use Penn almost exclusively. I've used all types, and the Penn ball is my preference. They seem to hold their pressure longer than other brands for me, and the felt seems to hold up a little better on hard courts. As far as rackets, you have to look at several major factors. What's your backswing like (loop, medium, abbreviated), what's your playing style (baseline, serve and volley), what's your swing-speed (basically, how fast or slow do you swing the racket), etc. After you narrow it down to some makes and models based on the above, you can begin to demo some rackets. All major tennis shops demo out rackets for a modest fee or for free. I don't recommend making a snap decision and buying just any racket. Do some research if you plan on playing a lot. I have always used Prince rackets (have played for roughly 15 years). I use a Prince Triple Threat Stealth now........love it. Not sure of the trampoline effect that heysampras is talking about. However, much of that is due to the string type or tension. I string HIGH, always have, because I have a fast swing speed. So my power comes from my swing and not my string.
HOOP-T, The battle between Penn and Wilson is like Pepsi and Coke. It is marketing. And btw: Wilson balls have been used at the US Open for a long time. Who cares if Penn puts out a special ball for the ATP. Penn SUCKS!!! I really hate that ball. Out of the can, there is nothing better than Wilson. Penn has way too much fuzz, and the rubber is too hard, that's why it doesn't lose pressure. It is a hacker's ball to last longer and look better, but balls aren't supposed to last that long or be that fuzzy. As for the Prince....ugh! No disrespect intended, because it is proven to be a winning racket for women, but I need a racket that I can feel. The Prince seems like two things in my hand...the handle/neck and the head, like a golf club or a whip. Other rackets (especially those designed for serving) feel like an extension of my arm, like a weapon...a sword. I just have no feel with Prince rackets, and never have. That's also my problem with all light-weight rackets. Then again, I'm a serve and volleyer, and volleying requires more touch and precise feel for the racket.
A Hacker's ball? First you said it's like Pepsi and Coke, marketing, then you cite reasons why Penn sucks????? I am not even sure what that means. The Wilson hardcourt ball has as much felt as the Pro-Penn ball. But I found the Penn ball keeps the felt intact better, less fraying and puffing than the Wilson. Do you hit a heavy ball or a flat ball? Oh Lord. This is like preaching to the choir my friend. I also play serve and volley tennis, always have. Perhaps you never tried the right Prince model, but they make all types. The Pro-Staff feels like a baseball bat to me. Meaning, the vibration dampening properties of the racket are TOO GOOD, with all the Kevlar they pack into that thing, and the PWS also feels weird to me. I never got the feel for the Pro-Staff, despite really wanting to, that I felt comfortable with. Rackets are all a matter of personal preference. You and I are likely to experience much different results with the other's choice in racket, or any brand for that matter. Wilson is also a proven WOMEN's racket....heard of the Williams sisters? Rafter has a few slams to his credit with a Prince. Agassi used a Prince for many years, as did Chang. That is a very obscure claim, saying Prince is a proven women's racket. I'd be willing ot bet that it is just as widely used and accomplished for men. Where does Dunlop fare?
<blockQUOTE>Originally posted by HOOP-T A Hacker's ball? First you said it's like Pepsi and Coke, marketing, then you cite reasons why Penn sucks????? I am not even sure what that means.</blockQUOTE>It means Pepsi sucks, but it is the only cola you can drink at Staples Center. btw: I'm really only measuring which ball is best out of the can. <blockQUOTE>Perhaps you never tried the right Prince model, but they make all types.</blockQUOTE>I've never been able to control my serve with them, or volley as well. <blockQUOTE>Wilson is also a proven WOMEN's racket....heard of the Williams sisters?</blockQUOTE>hehe. HOOP-T plays with a girls racket...j/k...it was just a jab. That's what we all said when the racket first came out....only women could win with the first model. As for Dunlaps, I really only know the wood rackets...great baseline rackets. I actually only know rackets for the wood era well...in the graphite era all I really know is my racket. It is the perfect racket for me, so I've only given other rackets a token try. That's why I suggested talking to a Pro and trying out a bunch of demos.
thats nice dude. Thanks for the tip everyone. I had another question. Can tennis balls be used over and over again? Meaning lets say I play with them for once and then wanna play again a couple of days later? Can those same balls be used like 3 or 4 times or do you guys recommend getting new balls every single time?
<blockQUOTE>Originally posted by R0ckets03 Can tennis balls be used over and over again? </blockQUOTE>Until you can answer that question on your own, use Penn. seriously, I rarely play competitive sets knowadays without opening a can. Most league play requires it...and all tourny's do. But then again, as a power server, I have my biggest advantage with fresh balls, and the cost is minor to me. For hitting around, I use old balls (less than one week or ~10 sets). And I save them beyond that for practicing by myself (serving), until they go uselessly flat. You will eventually be able to tell by squeezing one, whether you can play with it. The generic test of longevity is drop the ball from head height. It should bounce to your waist. While I'm at it, don't play on a net that isn't the right height; they cause bad habits. Most of them have a handle at one pole for tightening the net plus a strap in the middle of the net for tightening or loosening. The height (measured from the net at the center of the court) is one verticle racket height plus the horizontal height of the head of the racket. But, that doesn't work with a Prince racket...another reason why they suck.
tennisexpress.com by westside. They let you demo rackets for a week and they are very helpful. I currently am playing with a hyper carbon hammer.
