Tennis, anyone?
You don’t have to aspire to dethrone Martina Hingis or Pete Sampras to want to hit the tennis courts this summer. But if you’re just starting out, make sure your enthusiasm is backed by equipment that allows you to derive the most from your potential.
The good news is that such equipment doesn’t have to result in a forehand smash to your budget. In fact, affordability makes tennis one of the easiest sports to take up, says Corinne Pinsof-Kaplan, president of Chicago Tennis & Golf Co. in Chicago.
“The nice thing about tennis is that all you need is a racket and shoes,” she said. “Get the racket and shoes, and you’re into a new sport for $125.”
Skimp on quality, though, and you’ll likely to be courting disaster. That’s because cheaply made equipment will put you at a competitive disadvantage compared to other beginning players, and will also make it more difficult for you to enjoy the game. And before you can say “Love-40,” a bargain-basement equipment purchase may have cost you your interest in the sport.
With that in mind, the first piece of advice many retailers offer is to avoid the temptation to buy an entry-level aluminum racket. A better long-term choice is graphite or a graphite composite, say retailers. Compared to graphite, aluminum rackets are heavier, offer less power, increase the vibration to the arm and provide less control.
“You might as well just do yourself a favor and make it more enjoyable,” said John Pulka, founder and owner of Colgan’s Court Sports of Naperville. “Graphite rackets are game-improvement rackets. They lower the frustration level (and) make up for a multitude of sins.”
Though more expensive than aluminum, graphite rackets also offer a better value, retailers say. Since their introduction in 1976, when they cost about $200 each, graphite rackets have fallen in price, while non-quality rackets have risen. Aluminum rackets can set you back up to $40, but graphite rackets aren’t that much more costly, starting at about $69, said Pinsof-Kaplan.
Also consider the racket’s head size. An oversized racket is often recommended for beginning players because its larger sweet spot makes it more forgiving on off-center shots.
“It’s just one more way to make (the game) easier,” said Pinsof-Kaplan.
In addition, a couple new developments in rackets made possible by evolving technologies are worth discussing with knowledgeable sales personnel.
One is the longer racket, made possible through the use of lighter-weight materials. “Before, you could not make (a racket) longer without making it too heavy,” said Pinsof-Kaplan.
The longer rackets measure up to 29 inches (as opposed to the traditional length of 27 inches). Some experts believe the longer racket can prove especially beneficial to the recreational player, because it extends the sweet spot, lengthens a player’s reach and improves the angle on serves, increasing the odds of getting a higher percentage of first serves in.
But that shouldn’t make longer rackets the automatic choice of beginners, noted Mark Sandager, tennis manager at Shelby’s II, a store in Deerfield.
Said Sandager: “Is it possible to do more with a longer racket? Yes. Are they going to be confident enough to use that technology? That’s a personal thing. Always try before you buy. Different rackets have different characteristics, just like cars. A racket that’s good for somebody else may end up hurting your arm.”
The other recent development is the titanium frame. Titanium is actually a heavier metal than graphite, but adding titanium to a graphite racket allows a manufacturer to use less graphite, creating a lighter racket that’s more stable. And greater stability can mean the racket will be more effective on off-center hits and will provide greater shock absorption and a more solid feel.
Again, these benefits don’t mean titanium rackets should get an automatic thumbs-up from beginners. “You get a racket that’s lighter, but lighter isn’t always better,” said Sandager. “Because a titanium racket tends to be lighter, stiffer and more powerful, there’s a chance that it could end up hurting your arm.”
In choosing a racket, also make sure you select the right grip size. Six standard grip sizes for players, ranging from children to adults are offered by manufacturers, and selecting the proper size can be crucial to your game, said Pinsof-Kaplan. If the grip you choose is too large, you may not be able to prevent the racket from slipping in your hands. But get one too small, and you could wind up expending too much energy simply gripping the racket.
The stringing of the racket is another consideration. Retailers agree that beginners should avoid prestrung rackets, which tend to feature string and stringing of questionable quality.
“You can get one already strung, (but) what stringing does is fine-tune your racket,” said Pulka. “Custom stringing enhances the performance of your racket. Lower tension will increase the sweet spot, increase the power and decrease the vibration to your arm. Higher tension typically has the reverse effect. It reduces the power the racket generates and puts the onus on the player to produce power.”
Pinsof-Kaplan recommends that beginners choose a midrange tension. “They’re not going to be big hitters at that point, so you don’t have to worry as much about durability,” she noted.
Beginning players should also invest in a good pair of tennis shoes, which typically range from $50 to $100.
“The big thing is stability,” said Pulka. “The more aggressive a player you are, the more stable the shoes need to be. Less expensive shoes put more into cushioning. More expensive shoes contribute more to stability. And a shoe with a stable platform gives you a little more protection against stress on your knees.”
When trying on shoes, also look for extra room in the toe box, added Sandager. “It’s the stopping and starting, the slamming of the brakes, that can lead to tennis toe,” he said.
If the prices mentioned here seem beyond your budget, remember that most good tennis equipment retailers feature special departments offering reduced prices on demo rackets, discontinued merchandise and equipment the retailer is phasing out. Checking out such a department is a good opportunity to pick up a new or slightly used tennis racket for about half or even less than half its original price, say retailers.
