Best Tennis Racquets

Top 10 Rated Tennis Racquets 2013

By S. Dee Davis

There are tennis racquets available for all player levels with different designs, weights, and feels. Judging racquets based on their intended level, we selected the top 10 based on the following qualities:

1. Heavy enough to add a punch to shots and provide great control
2. Light enough to be easy to maneuver (and easy to arm)
3. Solid feel and response
4. Reduced vibrations
5. Produces a good spin on the ball
6. Suited for hitting balls at the baseline and volleying at the net
7. Strong, sturdy construction that maintains its quality
8. Good value for the price
9. Good length and comfortable grip

Tennis Racquets Buying Guide

A Guide to Selecting a Tennis Racquet

Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced tennis player, you should understand the basic principles behind tennis racquets and what makes one suited to a special kind of player. It can be daunting trying to select a tennis racquet due to the number of brands, sizes, shapes, and prices to choose from. Whenever possible, you should handle the racquet in person before making a purchase because each player operates at a different skill level and has a unique feel for the racquet.

You can judge a racquet by the size, stiffness, length, and weight of the frame.

• A large frame provides great power and is less likely to twist in your hand when you hit balls off-center. The larger the frame, the larger the sweet spot, or area of the strings where you’re least likely to feel the impact of the ball.
• A stiff frame also delivers great power and a bigger sweet spot. It helps distribute the impact of the ball across all the strings, giving you a uniform, solid-feeling response.
• The longer the racquet frame, the greater speed you’ll get when you swing it. The greater the velocity, the more power and spin you’ll get in your shots. A long racquet is also good for increased leverage and control. Racquets range from 27 to 29 inches long.
• A heavy frame, while difficult to wield for long periods without wearing out the arm, produces the greatest power. It yields a large sweet spot and also transmits fewer vibrations.

Also consider the head, or hoop, size. Racquets range from about 85 to 135 square inches.

• Beginners and intermediate players typically thrive with large-headed racquets. It’s easier to make shots even when the ball hits the racquet off-center, and you get great power due to the large sweet spot.
• Advanced players look for greater control with a small-headed racquet. Because of their advanced skill, they’re able to provide the power in the swing.

Weight and balance directly affect the unique feel of the racquet. They can either be heavier in the head or in the handle.

• Head-light racquets are preferred by most professional players because they offer the greatest maneuverability and control. Again, advanced players supply their own power, so they don’t need to rely on a heavy head to punch the shots.
• Head-heavy racquets are designed to be lighter overall without taking the weight and stability from the head. They’re still powerful, but some players complain that they don’t feel as solid as the traditionally balanced racquets. Others worry that lightweight racquets cause more tennis injuries because they transfer more vibrations through the player’s arm.

The string pattern has an effect on how the ball impacts against the racquet. Strings can be in either an open or closed pattern.

• Open string patterns feel loose and deflect the ball more upon impact, producing a great spin. However, these type of racquets require more maintenance because the strings are less durable and prone to breaking.
• Closed, or dense, string patterns produce less spin but provide greater control and durability. Look for racquets with a dense string pattern if you hit the ball hard with a topspin. You also won’t have to replace the strings often.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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