Tennis Equipment Q & A - What racket measurements matter?

Q. What are the racket measurements to know when comparing tennis rackets?

A: Here are some important technical specifications to consider when racket shopping:

Balance: The midpoint along the racket as measured from butt to head is used as the starting point to measure balance. If the racket is evenly balanced, its weight will be evenly distributed on either side of the midpoint, so that if you hold the racket parallel to the floor between your thumb and forefinger at this point, the racket will hang evenly. If the racket is head heavy, more weight is at the head end and the racket will have more swing weight. If the racket is head light, more weight will be at the butt-end and it will have less swing weight. Head heaviness or lightness is measured in points.

Beam Width: Think of it as the thickness of the racket. Look at the racket from the side - its width is the beam width. A thick beam width means stiffness and more power. A thinner beam width means flexibility and less power.

Composition: The materials that the racket is made of defines the racket's composition. Graphite, titanium, ceramics, aluminum and fiberglass are the principle materials used in modern-day racket construction.

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Flexibility: The opposite of stiffness, flexibility describes how much the racket frame will yield upon impact with the ball. The more flexible a frame is, the less powerful the racket. If you want to reduce the shock that comes up your arm when striking the ball, look for a racket with high flexibility.

Head Size: Tennis rackets typically come in one of three head sizes: midsize, mid-plus and oversize. General industry guidelines say that a midsize racket will offer between 85 to 95 sq. inches of hitting area, a mid-plus racket will offer between 95 to 105 sq. inches of hitting area and an oversize racket will offer more than 105 sq. inches of hitting area.

Length: Length is measured from the edge of the butt to the peak of the head.

Maneuverability: A racket that has good maneuverability allows you to adjust its position quickly and easily in the middle of play.

Power Level: How much punch the racket packs is the power level. A high power level racket will generate lots of pop on the ball but will place less emphasis on control, whereas a low power level racket will leave it up to you to do provide the power through a bigger, more aggressive swing while giving you more control.

Stability: As you come through the ball on your swing, you want the racket to stay on a true path and not deviate from it or wobble around. The less the racquet wants to deviate from the arc of your swing as it impacts the ball, the more stable it is. Head weight increases stability, as does a larger hitting area.

Stiffness: Just like it sounds, the stiffness describes how rigid the frame is. This is an important factor relating to power. If you want more power and less control out of your racquet, select one that has greater stiffness.

String Pattern: This is the number of mains (strings going up and down, from handle to head) and crosses (strings going left to right) that create the string bed. A tighter, closer string pattern is known as a dense string pattern and it puts more strings in contact with the ball. If you want more control over your shots and are not concerned so much with power, you want a dense string pattern. An example of a dense string pattern is 18 mains x 20 crosses. In contrast, an open string pattern generates more power but less control. An example of an open string pattern is 14 mains x 18 crosses.

String Tension: Each tennis racket has a suggested range of string tension. The manufacturer has tested the frame and determined the optimal range of tensions to set the strings for best play and longevity of the frame. As a general rule, if you string at the lower end of your racquet's recommended tension range, the same stroke will make the ball fly farther. Adjust string tension according to desired effect. Low tension = deeper shots. High tension = shorter shots.

Swing Speed: How fast you swing the racket is your swing speed. If you have a fast swing speed, you generate more power and so you don't need the racket to do this for you. A high-powered frame will send the ball flying and your shots will go long. If your swing speed is slower, you may need a racquet that generates more power. Of course, adjusting string tension will also impact how the ball comes off the racquet and can be used to fine-tune your "power setting."

Swing Weight: The swing weight of the racket is how heavy the racket feels when you swing it. The more weight you have distributed to the head of the racket, the higher the swing weight will be. If you have more of the racket's weight close to the handle, the swing weight will be lower. Also, extra-long racquets have a higher swing weight since there is more weight further from your hand due to the longer frame.

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June 11, 2008

Tennis Equipment Q & A - What racket measurements matter?