4 Reasons to Not Buy a New Tennis Racquet
April 19, 2010, By Greg Hoard 0 comments
At last count, we have about 20 or 30 tennis racquets. They live in the basement now and rarely come out to play until spring and summer. Many have busted strings. Some are awaiting a new grip. Each holds a memory of sorts. Some belong to me, maybe eight or nine, the product of years and years of club play from Florida, through Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
The rest belong to my sons, who played collegiate tennis and, thankfully, received some for free, or at a deep discount.
Nevertheless, we spent far too much money on tennis racquets. Every year or so, and like so many others, we often convinced ourselves that a new racquet would certainly and most assuredly elevate our game. Give me this baby and no more double-faults. The backhand down the line will be awesome and the cross-court forehand, just plain awesome.
I was more guilty of these delusional thoughts than the boys were simply because I had much more experience at losing than they did. (My search for a winning racquet was like Waiting for Godot.)
But, finally, I came to the sobering conclusion that it wasn’t the racquet. It was me and my lack of ability to climb beyond the 4.5-level which, by the way, varies depending on which part of the country you are playing in. (A 4.5 in Indiana is not necessarily a 4.5 on the clay courts of Atlanta.)
So with spring in the air and all the manufacturers from Prince Babolat, Wilson Head and Yonex trotting out new technology and bright shiny sticks don’t be swayed. Be smart and thrifty. Work on your game, not your wallet.
Here are a few reasons not to buy a new racquet:
Don’t be Star Struck: Just because “Feds” or Rafa or Andy can weave miraculous things with a particular racquet, doesn’t mean it will do the same thing for you. Odds are, you probably can’t even buy the same racquet they use. It may look like it, or have the same paint job but it’s not likely to be the same. The pros are constantly tinkering with their favored racquets, playing with the weight, balance and string tension – requesting and receiving changes in the specifications of the racquet. Odds are that you need a far more forgiving racquet than any used by the pros, one with a larger sweet spot and a little more give.
Be Skeptical: If you go for a lesson and after a few balls, the pro calls you to the net and says, “Lord, it’s obvious what’s wrong. You need a new racquet.” If he says something like that or even suggests it and you are not sporting an old wooden Jack Kramer, your pro is more salesman than teacher and he’s getting a cut from the Pro Shop. Find yourself a new pro.
Don’t Think Light: While a light racquet may feel good with a few swings, the lightest can cause problems like tennis elbow or a sore wrist. The lighter the racquet is, the more shock you arm, wrist and shoulder experiences – especially on a miss-hit or frame-shot. A little more heft helps to absorb the shock. Conversely, a racquet that is too heavy puts undue stress on the arm and shoulder. Ideally, the racquet should feel like a comfortable extension of your arm.
Be Realistic: The racquet will not make your game. You are far better off spending time and money on a lesson or two and practice time on the court. There is no replacement for the latter.
Greg Hoard is the senior writer and former editor of Cincinnati Profile magazine. He is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.
