If you're in the market for a new tennis racquet, you need to understand the basic structure of a tennis racquet. You can read Tennis racquet reviews by leading players and coaches, you can also search for information on the internet, but it is ultimately you, who has to make the right decision. Knowing the basics of racquets will help you to understand all about racquets when speaking with an experienced sports salesman.
The most important part of a tennis racquet is the head along with the sweet spot. The entire area with strings is known as the strung surface and contains the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area where the strings create the most power with the least amount of effort. The sweet spot varies from racquet to racquet based on the size of the head.
The beginners usually take a liking for the ‘over - sized’ racquet heads, which offer between 100 to 140 square inches of strung surface. These racquets with a larger sweet spot allow you to hit the ball from most parts of the racquet and still pack a punch.
The Mid-sized racquets are used mostly by pro players. These racquet heads range from 80 to 100 square inches. They offer a great combination of a relatively a large strung surface area, sweet spot and great maneuverability, resulting in the generation of good racquet speed.
Standard - sized racquets range from 80 - 85 square inches. They are almost a thing of past now. Its no wonder that with their smaller sweet spot, they have become obsolete, now only confined to sports museums!
The next important thing to check for while buying a tennis racquet is the ‘beam’, the part of the frame on either side of the head. They come with various ‘depths’. It is preferable to go for a moderate beam, which gives you optimum control over your shots.
Then comes the throat and shaft part of a racquet. The throat is the part below the head. The ‘open throat’ design has become the norm now in tennis racquet s with the gradual fading away of the closed throat design, which can be found in badminton racquets.
The grip is at the end of the shaft and can vary in diameter. You can choose your grip based on your comfort levels. The ‘butt cap’ present at the end of the racquet does not really impact your play. It is also important to choose the correct length of your racquet.
Longer racquets have more reach, but may be difficult to control. Beginners are always advised to go for the standard length racquets measuring around 27 inches and then graduate to longer racquets. Once you consider all these factors and weigh the pros and cons, you can definitely make the right choice