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2010 Racquet Guide: The Hybrid Revolution

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Racquets that combine the qualities of game-improvement and advanced-player sticks (and often cost less, too) lead the class of Spring 2010.

Hybrids are everywhere today, as designers and scientists blend the best qualities of two products into one. From cars with a combination of combustible fuel and electricity to golf clubs that have elements of irons and woods to dogs crossbred to mix non-shedding qualities and outgoing personalities, every industry seems to be going hybrid.

The hybrid tennis racquet started as an evolution, with the introduction in the 1990s of the Babolat Pure Drive, a cross between a game-improvement racquet and a player’s stick that Andy Roddick helped popularize. But hybrids became an all-out revolution in 2005, with the Babolat AeroPro Drive, used by Rafael Nadal.

The box-office success of Babolat’s hybrids sent other brands’ engineers to the drawing board to come up with their own versions. This spring, hybrids dominate the offerings. Out of 33 frames that were submitted for playtesting for this guide, more than half were hybrids.

Hybrid racquets, a.k.a. tweeners, blend the qualities of beginner and intermediate frames, like light weight, oversize head, head-heavy balance and wide beam, with those of tournament-player racquets, which are heavier and head light and have smaller heads and narrower beams. Hybrid head sizes are halfway between those of game-improvement and player racquets, with almost all coming in at 100 square inches. Weights are in the middle range as well, between 10.5 and 11.5 ounces. Balances tend to be more like those of player frames, from 3/8 to 1 inch head light, allowing users to whip them around with more ease than the more cumbersome game-improvement frames.

But the specs are only part of the story. The best part of hybrids, at least those reviewed on these pages, is that they have enlarged sweet spots and fewer dead areas on the string bed. That’s thanks to technologies designed to minimize the distortion and loss of power that often come with less-than-perfect contact.

Racquet brands each have a different method of expanding the hitting zone. Prince’s Energy Bridge, Völkl’s Power Arm and Yonex’s S-Fit technologies suspend the strings in the frame, allowing them to move more freely to put action on the ball. Wilson has strategically placed its new BLX material, fine-grained volcanic rock, around the frame, as has Babolat with its graphite and tungsten GT material.

Because of the range of attributes, hybrids appeal to a broad spectrum of players, particularly those in the 3.0 to 4.0 NTRP skill range. Plenty of 7.0s (pros) use them, too. In addition to Nadal and Roddick, Marcos Baghdatis uses the Tecnifibre T-Flash 315 Speed Flex, Feliciano Lopez’ stick is the Wilson Pro Open BLX, and Maria Sharapova’s weapon is the Prince EX03 Black 100.

Of the 19 racquets in this guide, we review six advanced-player racquets for tournament-level competitors and three game-improvement sticks for those with the least skill. Hybrids account for the other 10 reviews. [Also included are four reviews of racquets for kids graduating from junior frames.] That’s good news for consumers, because hybrids cost less than almost all game-improvement racquets and some of the player sticks. It’s just one more reason hybrids are here to stay.

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HOW WE TEST Each frame reviewed was tested for several months. Manufacturers sent TENNIS six blacked-out samples of every model strung with the company’s recommended string. Black frames are used so reviewers aren’t influenced by the racquets’ cosmetics during evaluation. The racquets were distributed to 11 testing sites: Courtside Racquet Club in Lebanon, N.J., where TENNIS racquet adviser Bruce Levine is the general manager; Columbia University’s Dick Savitt Tennis Center in New York; RacquetWorld in Miami; Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago; Meadow Creek Tennis & Fitness in Lakewood, Colo.; Ray’s Tennis Shop in San Diego; the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga.; Harmon Cove Tennis in Secaucus, N.J.; Ford Tennis House in Grosse Pointe, Mich.; Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfi eld, Mo.; and Fort Lee Racquet Club in Fort Lee, N.J. Consultants at each of these locations offered their expert assessments while also having scores of playtesters of various skill levels try and rate each racquet (all using Penn balls). They were asked to evaluate the frames in several categories, including power, control, comfort and stability. Lastly, they graded each racquet on a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (outstanding) and gave an overall appraisal of its benefits and deficiencies.

Originally published in the April 2010 issue of TENNIS.

Babolat AeroPro Drive GT/GT Plus

Price: $189
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in. (standard); 27.5 in. (Plus)
Weight: 11.2 oz.*
Swingweight: 324 (standard); 330 (Plus)
Balance: 1/2 in. head light (standard); 4/5 in. head light (Plus)
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 3.5–7.0

How it tested: The racquet that spawned the hybrid revolution just got better. This year Babolat added GT technology from its Pure Drive line to both the standard and extralong versions of Rafael Nadal’s stick. GT stands for the graphite and tungsten Babolat uses throughout the frame, with extra tungsten reinforcement at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the head to increase stability. Playtesters noted that the frame remained stable, and therefore comfortable, on off-center hits. This also allowed them to impart spin even when they made contact toward the frame’s edges. The GT Plus’ extra half-inch gives you more leverage on the serve for better placement and pop and a little more reach on wide shots. Playtesters who usually find extra-long sticks to be cumbersome didn’t feel that the GT Plus compromised maneuverability from the baseline, which is probably due to the head-light balance and aerodynamic throat.

Bottom line: The dream come true for baseliners who like to end points with blistering backcourt winners instead of waiting their opponents out.

Babolat AeroPro Team GT

Price: $189
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.5 oz.
Swingweight: 285
Balance: 4/5 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.0

How it tested: The AeroPro Team GT is for smaller and less skilled players who want to be like Rafa but don’t have the stamina, strength or strokes of tournament-level players. Its head-light balance makes the frame ultra-maneuverable, so you’ll get great spin with a medium or long stroke without having to risk knocking yourself out by trying Nadal's over the head follow through. Babolat reinforces the racquet with graphite and tungsten throughout the frame, and extra tungsten at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions of the head. This gives the AeroPro, which has the lightest swingweight in the hybrid category, unusual stability for such a mobile racquet. But its relatively light weight and head-light balance might also take a bit off your first serve: Even though there’s potential for tremendous racquet-head speed, there might not be enough mass to send the ball flying like you can with a heavier stick. To compensate, try adding some lead tape to the tip of the frame.

Bottom line: Best for baseliners who patiently construct points or are content to retrieve and force the error.

Boris Becker DC Pro

Price: $200
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.4 oz.
Swingweight: 318
Balance: 1/2 in. head light
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 4.0–4.5

How it tested: A gentler-on-the-arm version of past incarnations of the Boris Becker Pro, this one features new Delta Core carbon-nanotube technology and the vibration-dampening Sensor Plus Handle System, both of which are designed to produce a cushy feel. The DC Pro is slightly heavier than the previous versions, giving it a little more clout, while maintaining its outstanding spin production. To maximize spin so you can swing for the backstop but keep the ball in play, the racquet is best accompanied by a semi-Western or Western grip and polyester strings. At net it’s highly mobile and allows users to execute point-ending, backspinning drop shots. Servers who use plenty of slice will appreciate the DC Pro’s assistance. One of our playtesters delighted in repeatedly tangling his hitting partners in the side netting with his wide spin serves.

Bottom line: Best for former open tournament players who have lost a step and are looking for a little help to plow through the ball.

Head YouTek Extreme MP

Price: $190
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27.25 in.
Weight: 11.1 oz.
Swingweight: 315
Balance: 3/4 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 3.5–5.5

How it tested: Playtesters, especially flat hitters who like to rush the net, almost universally praised the YouTek Extreme MP for its equal blend of power and control. That may be largely the result of d3o technology, a “smart” foam that changes its properties depending on the user’s needs. For example, it’s incorporated into products like soft ski caps and body suits that stiffen to absorb the shock when a skier wipes out. In a tennis racquet like this one, d3o is supposed to change the frame’s playing characteristics to suit to your swing: On aggressive shots it stiffens for power, while on drop shots and slices it softens up for more feel. If the technology intrigues you but the frame is too light for your liking, check out the YouTek Extreme Pro MP. At 11.8 ounces and 27 inches, it’s a heavier, standard-length version best suited for tournament-caliber competitors with more skill and muscle.

Bottom line: It’s a versatile performer for all-court players.

Prince EXO³ Black 100/Team 100

Price: $220 (100); $200 (Team 100)
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.3 oz. (100); 10.4 oz. (Team 100)
Swingweight: 325
Balance: 1/2 in. head light (100); even (Team 100)
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium (100 and Team 100 with ports); long (100 with holes)
NTRP: 3.0 (Team 100 with ports), 3.5–4.0 (100 with ports); 4.5–7.0 (100 with holes)

How it tested: The Black 100 and Black Team 100 are in step with the current rage for self-expression and customization, from building your own teddy bear to tricking out your car with off-the-shelf kits. The Black 100 lets you have it your way with a choice of two stringing methods, either the pre-installed large openings that Prince calls “ports” or standard grommets, which you can request from the racquet dealer. Players with an NTRP of 4.5 or higher who crave maximum feedback from their frames will prefer the grommets. But 3.0–4.0 players with medium swings will benefit from the ports. They reduce wind drag to help increase the speed of your swing and allow the strings to move freely and cradle the ball before catapulting it back with power and spin. The Team version is almost an ounce lighter but has more weight in the head so you don’t sacrifice too much pop.

Bottom line: The grommet options give this Prince mass appeal.

Prince EXO³ White 100

Price: $200
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.8 oz.
Swingweight: 320
Balance: 1/4 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–7.0

How it tested: A middle-of-the-road swingweight of 320 might lead you to think that the EXO³ White 100 is a bit cumbersome. But we were pleasantly surprised to find that it has swashbuckling maneuverability. Veteran 3.0 playtesters who struggle to hit crosscourt passing shots were thrilled by how effortlessly they were able to angle the ball out of their opponent’s reach at net. Like other Prince frames, the White has a unique stringing system—in this case, wide-open slots that are slightly bigger than the ports on the Black. These holes allow the strings to flex more freely on impact, dampening vibration and expanding the sweet spot into the outer reaches of the string bed for power and control. We also found that the dynamic string bed increases the frame’s spin potential. Armed with the White, players with windshieldwiper forehands will be able to hit deep and extremely loopy topspin shots. Note: The White does not come with the option of traditional grommets for more feel.

Bottom line: The agile White 100 has high spin potential.

Technifibre T-Flash 300 Speed Flex/315 Speed Flex

Price: $199
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.2 oz. (300); 11.5 oz. (315)
Swingweight: 319 (300); 320 (315)
Balance: 1 in. head light (300); 1/2 in. head light (315)
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–5.0

How it tested: Several playtesters compared playing with the T-Flash 300 and its slightly heavier brother, the 315, to the whip-like feeling of swinging a driver in golf. That’s the intention behind the Speed Flex technology in the shaft, which is stiff at the bottom and flexible at the throat. It enables a user with a clean, medium-to-long swing to build tremendous racquet-head speed as the swing progresses, and to use the momentum of the incoming ball to snap it back deep, much like the 315’s most famous user, Marcos Baghdatis, does. The T-Flash also provides a crisp response at net. “It has the kind of control that helped me place the ball pretty much where I intended,” one playtester said. The 300 is the more maneuverable of the two, while the 315 is best for slightly more accomplished players who generate their own power.

Bottom line: The Zeus caricature on the throat is perfect for this thunderstick of a hybrid.

Völkl Powerbridge 5

Price: $240
Head size: 102 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.5 oz.
Swingweight: 293
Balance: 1 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.5

How it tested: Accomplished spin doctors who drive their opponents nuts by using all types of strokes to produce all types of spins are going to love the Powerbridge 5. The key to this slice-and-dice stick could be the Power Arm affixed to the throat. The technology allows the eight middle main strings to pull back at contact, so the racquet grips the ball before propelling it off the string bed like a slingshot. This gives you an extra fraction of a second to apply a severe wrist snap and send the ball spinning like a dreidel. The Powerbridge 5 is also reinforced with Völkl’s DNX, ultra-stiff carbon nanotubes at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions of the head, for stability. Perhaps that’s what provides a significant power boost and keeps heavy backspins on line-drive trajectories. And comfort is supreme thanks to the Power Arm working in concert with the racquet’s cushy Sensor Handle System.

Bottom line: A frame for those who give junkballing a good name.

Wilson Pro Open BLX

Price: $210
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.1 oz.
Swingweight: 317
Balance: 1/2 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.5

How it tested: The Pro Open BLX has a blend of power, control, comfort and stability that suits a wide range of player types, from baseline bombers to serve-and-volleyers. It has a sweet spot that rivals the expansive hitting areas of frames with much larger heads, but without the tendency of oversize racquets to twist on off-center hits. The racquet has Wilson’s new BLX technology, which mixes fine-grained volcanic rock, or basalt, with its existing strengthening mixture of carbon black, graphite and silicon dioxide, which was introduced a few years ago in its [K] Factor racquets. This construction produces such a comfortable feel that it renders vibration dampeners obsolete yet doesn’t compromise on the feedback you need for control from all corners of the court.

Bottom line: A versatile racquet that’s a must-playtest for hybrid lovers.

Yonex S-Fit 1 Light

Price: $220
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.6 oz.
Swingweight: 296
Balance: 3/8 in. head light
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.0

How it tested: Yonex is introducing four fairly light racquets with 100–112-square-inch hitting areas in its S-Fit line. The sticks are unusual offerings from a brand best known for advanced-player racquets with smaller head sizes. Playtesters tried out three of the racquets and preferred the S-Fit 1 Light hybrid, which they found to be comfortable to swing and highly maneuverable. (The fourth frame, the S-Fit 1, wasn’t available for testing.) The racquet offers decent stability, which Yonex claims is due to Dual O.P.S, its split-shaft construction in the throat. Many of our playtesters, however, thought the frame didn’t stand up to blazing drives from opponents and complained about some twisting on off-center hits at net. S-Fit, or the Select Fit System, is a grommet strip that allows players to choose between two stringing options—one pattern provides enhanced comfort and power, the other better touch. Most playtesters preferred the first.

Bottom line: For defensive retrievers who don’t often run up against hard-hitters or opponents who force them to net.

*All values for weight, swingweight and balance are for strung racquets.

Originally published in the April 2010 issue of TENNIS.

Babolat Aero Storm Tour

Price: $185
Head size: 98 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.9 oz.
Swingweight: 325
Balance: 9/10 in. head light
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 4.5–7.0

How it tested: The most obvious change in this year’s Aero Storm Tour is a cosmetic switch from the red, black and white color combo to the bumblebee graphics of the AeroPro Drive. It’s a slick marketing move that will give the Aero family a consistent look for TV cameras, whether it’s the Storm Tour in Dinara Safina’s hands or the AeroPro Drive GT used by Rafael Nadal. But after this superficial likeness, the Aero Storm Tour and AeroPro Drive part company. The Storm Tour is a lot heavier and has a smaller head, making it better for volleys. But it also takes a lot more muscle to swing and generate pace on ground strokes. Stability is enhanced by Babolat’s GT technology, graphite and tungsten throughout the frame, with extra tungsten fibers inside the hoop at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, to prevent twisting on off-center hits. Babolat also makes a hybrid version of the Aero Storm Tour, the Aero Storm, for less accomplished players.

Bottom line: Best for fit and furious allcourters with tournament-level skills.

Dunlop Aerogel 4D 2Hundred Tour

Price: $199
Head size: 95 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 12.2 oz.
Swingweight: 316
Balance: 1 in. head light
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 5.0–7.0

How it tested: The Tour version of the 4D 2Hundred has been tweaked with a more open string pattern. It’s now 16-by-18 for added spin potential, instead of the previous closed 18-by-20 pattern preferred by flat hitters. Dunlop made the switch to accommodate American players, who, according to the brand's research, prefer this configuration 5-to-1. But what remains consistent is the Tour’s outstanding control and touch, which its core audience of high-level players demands. You don’t have to be able to take a set off a touring pro to get the most out of this stick, but you’d better be able to make him or her sweat as a sparring partner. The 2Hundred Tour requires finely tuned stroke mechanics and a long, fluid swing to provide pace. If you fit that bill, you’ll be delighted by its comfort and stability, thanks to the addition of 4D braiding, four layers of graphite braided into a single layer at the 3 and 9 o’clock and 5 and 7 o’clock positions on the frame.

Bottom line: It’s great for accomplished baseline bashers and all-courters with an NTRP rating of at least 5.0.

Head YouTek Prestige Mid/Prestige MP/Prestige Pro

Price: $225
Head size: 93 sq. in. (Mid); 98 sq. in. (MP and Pro)
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 12.2 oz. (Mid); 11.9 oz. (MP); 12 oz. (Pro)
Swingweight: 319 (Mid); 310 (MP); 318 (Pro)
Balance: 1 in. head light (Mid); 3/4 in. head light (MP and Pro)
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 4.5–7.0

How it tested: The main difference between the three versions of the YouTek Prestige is the string patterns. The Prestige Pro has an open 16-by-19 pattern for generating ample topspin, and both the Mid and MP (mid-plus) sport more closed 18-by-20 patterns for flat hitters and serve-and-volleyers. Each model requires that users generate most of the power, but they’ll be rewarded with pinpoint control. “The Mid is the stick I’d choose if I were 30 again and in great shape,” said TENNIS racquet adviser, Bruce Levine, who got his 5.0 NTRP rating wielding the classic Prestige Mid in the 1990s. The YouTek Prestige is equipped with d3o, a “smart” foam in the racquet that adapts to the velocity of your swing: It stiffens the frame on high-speed impacts to add pop, and flexes for precision on low-impact slice and drop shots. But the technology doesn’t compromise the feedback from the string bed that advanced players rely on.

Bottom line: Ideal for aggressive players, the Prestige showcases how innovative technology can enhance a classic frame.

Wilson Pro Tour BLX

Price: $210
Head size: 96 sq. in
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 11.6 oz.
Swingweight: 330
Balance: 9/10 in. head light
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 3.5–7.0

How it tested: Wilson positions the new Pro Tour BLX as a tournament-player frame and has U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro swinging it to support that notion. Indeed, it’s primarily intended for long-swinging, accomplished players who will appreciate its touch, control and stability. But its appeal goes beyond elite competitors. Some of our playtesters, namely big guys who hit with ferocity but struggle to keep their missiles in the court, discovered something they didn’t know they had in them when playing with this stick—control. One 3.5-rated 250-pounder seemed to morph into a legit 4.0 right before our eyes. After dumping most of his big serves into the net with other frames and keeping his hitting partner ducking with his errant baseline screamers, suddenly everything started going in. “Just tell me what it is,” he said, pointing to the blacked-out frame. “I gotta have it.”

Bottom line: Enough control to soothe even the most savage on-court beast.

Wilson Six.One Tour BLX

Price: $230
Head size: 90 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 12.5 oz.
Swingweight: 319
Balance: 1 in. head light
Flexibility: Flexible
Ideal swing: Long
NTRP: 5.5–7.0

How it tested: You want to be just like Roger Federer, and you’ve patterned your look and playing style after the best in the game. Fine, but don’t go messing around with his precision instrument, the Six.One Tour BLX, unless you’re already collecting prize money as a pro or at least playing in college or in elite juniors. Lesser-skilled players using this racquet may face serious blows to their egos. Its 90-square-inch head (the smallest of the racquets reviewed here) and hefty 12.5-ounce weight only work in the most capable hands. For the rest of us, Wilson has come up with a host of Six.One look-alikes that are friendlier to a wider range of players, including (from the top down) the Six.One 95 BLX, Six.One Team BLX, Six.One Lite BLX and the junior-sized Six.One 26. A playtester who competes on the Challenger circuit thought the addition of BLX technology (fibers woven into the frame to decrease vibration) gave it a bit more power than last year’s version, the [K] Six.One Tour, along with a more comfortable feel without masking touch.

Bottom line: Try the Six.One’s many incarnations to see which fits you best.

Wilson Tour BLX

Price: $220
Head size: 95 sq. in.
Length: 27.25 in.
Weight: 10.8 oz.
Swingweight: 336
Balance: 1/8 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Firm
Ideal swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 4.0–7.0

How it tested: The Tour BLX is Justine Henin’s comeback club and is used by Japan’s Kei Nishikori on the men’s side. It’s firm and unusually powerful for a player frame, but the latter is due mostly to the extra quarter-inch of length and head-heavy balance that make it feel heavier than its 10.8 ounces. You’ll find that you can hit with depth and pop without having to work as hard as with most other player frames. Wilson’s BLX technology insulates the hand from harsh vibrations, providing substantial comfort from the baseline and at net. But, like a mute on a trumpet, it also seems to mask a little of the feel on this particular model. Playtesters appreciated the tour’s open string pattern and gave it high marks for helping them produce spin.

Bottom line: Particularly attractive for serious juniors graduating from game-improvement frames or veterans looking to restore some of the power they’ve lost with age.

Originally published in the April 2010 issue of TENNIS.

Gamma CP-1000

Price: $170
Head size: 102 sq. in.
Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 10.1 oz.
Swingweight: 310
Balance: 1/4 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal swing: Short
NTRP: Beginner–2.5

How it tested: Racquet companies pump their game-improvement frames with their latest technologies to help lower-level players get better as fast as possible. All that research and development can come at a high cost, and many beginners are understandably wary about shelling out $300 to try a new sport. The Gamma CP-1000 fills the gap between performance and price. At almost half the suggested retail price of some of the other offerings in this category, the CP-1000 is a workhorse that will provide budget-minded first-timers an easy introduction to the joys of making contact on the string bed rather than the frame. It’s light, but thanks to the stiff construction, wide beam and head-heavy balance, the CP-1000 helps send shots deep in the court with a short swing. And the racquet’s dense string pattern will help give the novice a sense of control.

Bottom line: The best value combination of price and quality in this group.

Völkl Powerbridge 2

Price: $250
Head size: 115 sq. in.
Length: 27.6 in.
Weight: 10 oz.
Swingweight: 314
Balance: 1/5 in. head light
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal swing: Short to medium
NTRP: 2.5–3.0

How it tested: The Powerbridge 2 is the ultimate one-up-one-back doubles racquet, whether you and your partner aspire to make the nationals with your 3.0 league or just want to keep the ball in play to maximize your workout. Its great maneuverability, rare for a frame this huge, will have you staving off attacks at the net with the agility and nimbleness of a fencer. While you’re up there, you’ll also find it remarkably stable for an oversize, thanks to its light weight and the strong DNX carbon fibers that Völkl has placed at the sides and bottom of the hoop. The backcourt player will appreciate the racquet’s extra length, which will add leverage to groundies and provide a nice assist on wide shots. The Powerbridge 2 generates controllable pace that will allow medium-length strikers to keep the ball in the court, while the Sensor Handle System does a good job of dampening vibration.

Bottom line: Its power and maneuverability double the fun of playing doubles.

Wilson Cirrus One BLX

Price: $300
Head size: 118 sq. in.
Length: 27.5 in.
Weight: 9.9 oz.
Swingweight: 331
Balance: 3/4 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal swing: Short
NTRP: 2.5–3.0

How it tested: The Cirrus not only has the biggest face in this guide, it has the largest sweet spot, too. It compensates for the loss of muscle and mobility that come with age and helps you hit the ball deep with minimal effort. It’s also great for spin doctors who like to carve the ball and newcomers looking to hit the court playing, or at least able to start making solid contact as quickly as possible. The Cirrus has a number of comfort and sweet spot-expanding technologies, including BLX, which is basalt, or fine-grained volcanic rock, that dampens vibration. It also has a new grommet design, Articulated Grommet Technology, that allows the strings to flex for a bigger sweet spot. Meanwhile, quad shaft FX technology—the shaft is constructed with four arms instead of the usual two—greatly enhances stability on off-center hits, a pleasant surprise in such a lightweight and large-faced racquet.

Bottom line: The big sweet spot and comfort qualities make using this racquet as close to autopilot as you can get on a tennis court.

Originally published in the April 2010 issue of TENNIS.

Coming of Age: Four sticks for kids graduating from junior racquets

Playing with an adult racquet can be a dream come true for kids, but it can be a nightmare filled with late swings if the new stick is too cumbersome. Here are four new adult racquets for intermediate-level juniors graduating from 25- and 26-inch sticks. They all weigh less than 10 ounces, have feather-like swingweights, and are just head heavy enough to produce some power. The best thing about these racquets is that they can be customized as the player gets stronger. By adding lead tape at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the hoop and in the handle, the racquet can develop with the player.

Babolat Aero Pro Lite

Price: $179
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 9.8 oz.
Balance: 3/10 in. head heavy
Best suited for: Kids with medium swings and open-stance forehands who already utilize topspin.

Dunlop Aerogel 4D 500 Lite

Price: $169
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 9.9 oz.
Balance: 3/4 in. head heavy
Best suited for: Intermediate-level kids with flat, medium-length swings who have the strength to wield a slightly longer frame.

Wilson Six.One Lite BLX

Price: $210
Head Size: 102 sq. in.
Length: 27.25 in.
Weight: 9.3 oz.
Balance: 1/8 in. head heavy
Best suited for: Flat-hitting young net-rushers.

Yonex S-Fit 5

Price: $250
Head Size: 112 sq. in.
Length: 27.25 in.
Weight: 9.8 oz.
Balance: 1/4 in. head heavy
Best suited for: Less accomplished juniors who need the jumbo hitting area and the extra length without sacrificing maneuverability.

Originally published on TENNIS.com.

Get Shorty: The case for the "stubby" racquet

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Like most tennis teachers, Larry Haugness tells beginners that the quickest way to make quality contact is to shorten their swings. But for the past 14 years, Haugness, the director of tennis at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo., has also been preaching the joys of shortening racquets.

Haugness says his sawed-off sticks have helped him stay at a high playing level. He calls them “stubbies” because he hacks off 1 1/2 inches from standard adult 27-inch frames with a tilecutting saw, then adjusts the weights and balances.

He contends that junior length racquets give him added control because his hand is closer to the contact point, and he has more maneuverability and comfort due to the lighter weight. He also says the shorter racquet has alleviated the tennis elbow he developed from hitting 1,800 balls a day.

Before you dismiss this racquet slasher as just another whack-job, you should know that Haugness conducted a study of 28 players at his club and says that about half have switched to the shorter frame.

“And they aren’t just beginners,” he says. “They go all the way up to 3.5s. Any recreational player who lacks good stroke mechanics—maybe they’re hitting late, spraying the ball out of control, or hitting a lot of frame shots—would improve his or her game almost immediately with a stubby.”

But Haugness admits there are tradeoffs. The biggest is the loss of power because a shorter stick means less whip in the swing. “I get some of that back by using an oversize head, but yeah, I don’t strike the ball as hard as I used to.”

There’s also some loss of trajectory on serves and less reach on ground strokes, “but it’s negligible.” Of course, the shortened handle can make a two-handed backhand challenging, depending on the size of the player’s hands.

In case you want to try this at home—which, by the way, would void your racquet’s warranty—the process goes beyond just chopping off the end. When you do that, it will make the racquet too head heavy. The 3/4-ounce weight loss will also render the frame too light to withstand much impact. “Tennis is a collision sport between the racquet and the ball, and the most stable object wins,” says Steve Davis, vice president of global product management at Prince. “Junior racquets are quick through the air, but they lack sufficient mass to stand up to hard-hitting adults.”

To compensate, Haugness adds a generous amount of lead tape under the grip, which beefs up the weight and reduces the head heaviness from about 3 1/2 inches to 1/4 inch.

When he’s done reapplying the grip and securing the butt cap with heavy-duty staples, the stubby looks like a junior racquet. It draws laughter from his opponents, but that dies down when Haugness sticks a couple putaway volleys.

Originally published in the March 2010 issue of TENNIS.

No More Kids' Stuff

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The flimsy junior racquets of the past get an upgrade.

If you began playing tennis as a kid anywhere from the late 1970s to the late ’90s with one of those 25- or 26-inch aluminum junior racquets, you knew when it was time to move up to a standard 27-inch adult frame. It was the moment after you hit a backhand slice and looked down to see the butt cap of the racquet dangling below your hand, barely clinging to the unraveled grip.

Those super flyweight junior sticks helped jumpstart tennis for a couple generations. The inch or two shorter length put kids’ hitting hands closer to the striking area, and the light weight provided them with Peter Pan maneuverability that made it much easier to duel at net or swing from the baseline. But those frames didn’t have much power, control or comfort—the sting to the arm and hand was similar to hitting a baseball in 35-degree weather. And as serious juniors developed strength, their junior racquets crumbled under the force of their swings.

Today’s kids don’t know how good they have it, thanks to a starter-racquet revolution earlier this decade. Junior’s frame still can weigh 3 to 4 ounces less than Dad’s and have a balance point that’s more head heavy to enhance power. But brands now produce 25- and 26-inch junior racquets with graphite and give them many of the same power, control, stability and comfort features as their premium adult counterparts. These technologies include Head’s MicroGel and YouTek comfort systems, Babolat’s Cortex vibration dampener and Prince’s sweet spotexpanding EX03 construction.

“They give kids an opportunity to feel from the get-go what it will be like playing with an adult racquet,” says Bruce Levine, TENNIS racquet adviser. “And they give kids more success sooner and pave the way for them to grow into the adult frames.”

The “success sooner” idea is keeping American children interested in the sport. The 12–17 age range is currently the largest segment of the U.S. tennis market—about 6 million of today’s 30.1 million players. And participation by 6- to 11-year-olds has increased to 4.9 million, according to the Tennis Industry Association.

Junior racquets come with a standard 4-inch grip size, about a quarter-inch smaller than the average woman’s grip. And even with the high-tech engineering, they don’t cost as much as adult frames, usually going for less than $125.

The big question is, When should a child move up to an adult racquet? Levine says the best way to determine the right size is to start by placing an adult racquet in a child’s hands and observe. “If he is hitting late or has little pace on the ball, that means he should be playing with a junior stick.”

And if the premium junior racquets are still too cumbersome, the brands offer aluminum sticks in still shorter lengths, right down to an entry-level length of 19 inches. Have your child use those paddlelike frames with low-compression or foam balls until he or she gets the strength to move up to junior premiums. With all these options, it’s a great time to be a tennis kid.

Junior Mints: Four frames for kids that have the flavor of their adult counterparts

Babolat Aero Pro Drive Jr.
Price: $104
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 26 in.
Weight: 9.3 oz.
Swingweight: 261
Balance: 3/4-in. head heavy
Best for: Advanced players
You don’t have to be a marketing genius to know that Rafael Nadal is popular with the kids. This junior racquet not only has the bumblebee cosmetics of Nadal’s stick, it also comes with Babolat’s GT technology, which weaves tungsten fibers with the standard graphite to help kids with solid stroke mechanics place the ball. All this racquet lacks is a bandana.

Head Prestige Junior
Price: $100
Head size: 102 sq. in.
Length: 26.2 in.
Weight: 9.6 oz.
Swingweight: 250
Balance: 1 1/2-in. head heavy
Best for: Beginners
The Prestige Juniors’ mid-plus head size (its teardrop head is the biggest among these) relative to its short length helps beginners practice hand-eye coordination and gives them a better chance of making solid contact with the ball. The racquet comes with a generous dose of Head’s MicroGel technology, which provides a more comfortable feel for tykes.

Prince EXO3 Graphite 26-Plus
Price: $120
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 26.5 in.
Weight: 9.3 oz.
Swingweight: 278
Balance: 1/5-in. head heavy
Best for: Stronger, bigger kids
The kids’ version of the Prince Graphite features technologies that make the adult model a favorite, including the crossbar stabilizer in the throat and the O-Port grommets, which give it a catapult-like string bed for power and comfort. But its swingweight—how heavy it feels when you swing it—approaches some light adult frames, so it takes muscle to get it moving.

Wilson Six.One 26 BLX
Price: $120
Head size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 26 in.
Weight: 8.8 oz.
Swingweight: 248
Balance: 3/4-in. head heavy
Best for: Smaller players
The Six.One 26 BLX shows how seriously racquet manufacturers are taking kids’ sticks these days. Wilson has included its new, ultracomfortable BLX material (basalt from natural volcanic rock) in the frame. The easiest racquet to swing in this group, it’s an ideal candidate for smaller kids just moving up from shorter aluminum frames.

Originally published in the March 2010 issue of TENNIS.

Strings of the Stars: The Lux Factor

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With 70 percent of today’s Top 20 ATP tour players stringing their racquets with its polyester-based string, Luxilon Industries is no longer best known for making fiber products such as medical sutures, climbing rope and bra straps.

Based in Antwerp, Belgium, Luxilon Industries turned its fiber manufacturing expertise into making tennis string 19 years ago, but it wasn’t until 1997 that it gained any ground in the string marketplace. That’s when Gustavo Kuerten, a gangly unknown Brazilian kid, came to the French Open with big dreams in his head and Lux in his racquet and stunned the other players at Roland Garros by winning the thing. They eyed his racquets in the locker room, and began telling their own stringers, “I’ll have what he’s having.”

The Lux word-of-mouth continued to spread as even dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists like Pete Sampras (gut) and Andre Agassi (Kevlar/nylon) gave Lux a brief whirl. Ivan Lendl flirted with Luxilon; because he was often breaking his gut strings with his over-the-top 75-pound tension, he liked Luxilon’s durability. But Lendl ultimately decided to pass, because he had little use for its spin-enhancement quality, says racquet-customizer-to-the-stars Nate Ferguson of Priority 1 in Tampa.

“Lendl hit flat and he loved the way [Luxilon] accentuated the topspin, but adding that high level of spin would be have been difficult because he would have had to adjust his entire game,” Ferguson said.

More recreational players are following suit and opting for Lux. But because it can be harsh on the arm, Luxilon (which means “luxury nylon”) is introducing a gentler and cheaper version, the Adrenalin string, this month.

Pro users often combine Lux with gut in either the mains or crosses to soften the blow and dial down their tensions into the mid and lower ranges for an additional measure of comfort as well as power. Filippo Volandri strings at only 26 pounds, the polar opposite of Jurgen Melzer, who strings his poly at an arm-numbing 75 pounds. The high tension enhances Lux’s dead feel, which helps the Austrian take better advantage of his favorite shot, the backhand drop.

Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt string their Pro Hurricane/gut combos at opposite ends—tight for Roddick, to harness his powerful Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT Plus racquet, and loose for Hewitt, a retriever who lacks Roddick’s power and needs help from the strings.

With the exception of Mike and Bob Bryan, no two players string their poly exactly alike. The Bryans reinforce the truism that twins do everything alike by outfitting their identical EXO3 Ignite Team 95 racquets with the same poly/gut string at the exact same tension, 49 pounds in the mains and 53 in the crosses.

The January/February 2010 issue of TENNIS has a strings-of-the-stars chart; here are some more:

Player	Racquet	String	Tension
Marcos Baghdatis	Tecnifibre T-Flash 315	Tecnifibre X-One	46/51
Tomas Berdych	Dunlop 4D 200	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power	55
David Ferrer	Prince Vendetta DP MP	Luxilon Original	44
Mardy Fish	Wilson K Factor K-Six-One 95	Wilson Gut/Luxilon Big Banger	55
Richard Gasquet	Head Microgel Extreme Pro	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power	55
Robby Ginepri	Babolat Pure Storm Team	Pro Hurricane/Bab.VS	55
Tommy Haas	Head MicroGEL Prestige	Bab. Natural Gut/Lux. Ace	59/53
Daniela Hantuchova	Prince Ozone 7	Babolat VS Touch	58
Philipp Kohlschreiber	Wilson K Factor K Blade 98	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Rough	53/51
Na Li	Babolat Pure Drive GT	Bab. Pro Hurr./Bab. Xcel	65/63
David Nalbandian	Yonex RDiS 100	Luxilon Big Banger Original	64
Tommy Robredo	Dunlop 4D 300	Luxilon Original	52/50
Francesca Schiavone	Babolat Aero Drive Cortex	Babolat Revenge	46
Nicole Vaidisova	Yonex RQiS 2 Tour	Luxilon Big Banger Ace	57
Elena Vesnina	Babolat Pure Drive GT	Bab. Pro Hurr./Bab.Powergy	57/55
Stanislas Wawrinka	Head MicroGEL Prestige Pro	Luxilon Big Banger Alu Power	66/62

The Pros' Biggest Secret

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How do the players launch those guided missiles? It starts with their strings.

Birgit Ziener may be the busiest person in the tennis business. As the tour manager for Luxilon, her job is to supply the pros with the brand’s popular string. How popular? Wilson, the global distributor and marketer of Luxilon, estimates that more than 3 million feet of it was distributed to the pros at the Grand Slams and in Miami alone last year. At the time of the Cincinnati tournaments in August, 70 percent of the Top 20 ATP tour players and 40 percent of their WTA tour counterparts were using Luxilon, either as a full set or as a hybrid mix with gut.

You may have heard Luxilon’s most popular model, Big Banger Alu, referred to as a polyester string. That isn’t entirely accurate. Basic polys have been around for ages, but companies like Luxilon have messed around with the configurations, adding proprietary polymers. Luxilon, for one, guards its formula as religiously as KFC protects its secret recipe.

What we do know is that next-generation polyesters are here to stay. Of the six non-Luxilon men in the Top 20, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez string with their racquet company’s version of poly, Babolat Pro Hurricane, and Nikolay Davydenko uses Poly Star Energy polyester. That leaves Gilles Simon and Radek Stepanek as the only poly holdouts at the top. The majority of the top women players also string with Luxilon or other brand’s poly-based strings, while Kim Clijsters and Serena and Venus Williams use gut.

Of all the brands, Luxilon is clearly king. Unlike the racquets, clothing and shoes they’re paid big bucks to endorse, many pros use the string without being paid to do so. Wilson players get Luxilon for free, a nice deal for someone like Roger Federer, who goes through 400 sets of Luxilon a year. Others, like Head racquet user Novak Djokovic and Yonex player Ana Ivanovic, pay the going rate or get their sponsors to buy it, according to Nate Ferguson, owner of Priority One in Tampa, Fla., and the personal stringer and racquet customizer to top pros such as Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray.

The advent of polyester has done more to change the men’s game than anything else, including better fitness and souped-up racquet technology. It’s a key reason that returning serve has become easier and serving and volleying has become tougher.

Whether it’s Luxilon or other popular strings, like Babolat Pro Hurricane, Tecnifibre Pro Red Code or Isospeed Hybrid Spin, polyester-based strings allow the top players to whack the fuzz off the ball and keep it in the court because of its dead feel. But Ferguson says his clients contend that Luxilon does the rest of the pack one better: It helps them impart more spin.

Fewer WTA players use poly because many prefer the inherent power and feel of gut. Ferguson says some should consider switching. “I think [gut user] Serena Williams would cut her errors way down,” Ferguson says. “I’d put her in a Lux in the mains for control with gut crosses for comfort.” But he says Venus should stay clear of poly, which is stiff and hard on the arm, because of her history of wrist problems.

Ferguson thinks even more players will switch to Luxilon because of the introduction of Luxilon M2, a softer version that’s gentler on the arm, in 2009. The only top-rated player using it so far is Maria Sharapova, who had rotator cuff surgery in 2008.

If M2 catches on, that will make Ziener, Luxilon’s tour manager, even busier.

The 2009 TENNIS Holiday Gift Guide

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Racquet bags that keep beverages cool, and refrigerated hats that will keep you from blowing your top during a hot match. A watch that keeps score, and a new device that gauges when your strings are losing tension. And shades for everything under the tennis sun. These are a few of our favorite holiday things for that special player (who just might be you) in our guide to giving, tennis-style. Prices listed are suggested retail, which means you can probably find them cheaper if you call the stores or do some cyber-sleuthing.

Tennis Bag Beverage Cooler
You’re playing at the public park where there’s not a snack bar or convenience store in sight, you didn’t want to bother with a clunky cooler, and the water you took out of the fridge an hour ago has turned luke-warm by the start of the second set. But what if your bag had its own beverage compartment? That’s the idea behind the Prince EX03 12-Pack ($109) bag, featuring a built-in thermal insulated cooler compartment that can keep a couple of six-packs chilled. The enormous bag also fits up to a dozen racquets, a change of clothes and shoes, with room left over to cart a Yorkie.

Scoring Watch
You’re about to serve at 40-15, and your opponent raises his hand. “Uh, it’s actually 15-40.” He’s got it wrong, of course, but because neither of you remember each point you’ve played, you grudgingly agree to compromise and call it 30-30…and then you end up losing the next two points. Game, cheater. The Winset Tennis Scoring Watch ($39.95) takes the hassle out of keeping, and remembering, the score. You record each point with the push of a button. It also tracks your sets (best-of-three or best-of-five) and alerts you when to switch sides. If you really want to be a stickler, the watch also times the changeover. And oh yeah, it tells time, too.

Doggie Dress
The Canine Styles Crocodile Tennis Dress ($38) is the height of Fido fashion and canine couture. But if your pooch usually gets embarrassed and runs away when you try to outfit her in full-body anthropomorphic sportswear, you can opt for the simpler Tennis Polo version ($35) that comes without the pleated skirt.

Refrigerated hat
The problem with wearing conventional tennis or baseball caps in a scorcher is that they trap the heat from your body, making you feel like wilted lettuce by the middle of the first set. The solution might the Blubandoo cooling cap ($19.95). Its polymer-cooling crystals (they convert to a gel after being dunked for about five minutes in water) refrigerate your head during the entire match. Also comes in doo-rag and dorky floppy golf-hat versions. Those who hate having anything on their heads can cool down during changeovers with the Froggtoggs Chilly Pad towel ($14.95), made from a “hyper-evaporative” material that keeps it damper and cooler than the outside air.

Three-ball pocket wrap
Tired of fumbling for second-serve balls in the pockets of your shorts or that butt-pouch in your tennis underwear? The Bodystyle Athletics Tennis RAQ ($19.95) has three ball pockets and a strap that wraps around the waist, letting you hold enough balls for a first and second serve and a let.

New grip on tennis elbow
The Thera-Band Flexbar ($16.95-$20.95) exercise bar may help reduce pain in the elbow and forearm, according to research presented last summer by Timothy F. Tyler of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York at the annual meeting of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. Tyler’s study was conducted on 21 tennis-elbow patients that were split into two groups—one of which did wrist-extensor strengthening with the Flex Bar, the other of which did isotonic strengthening exercises. Patients using the bar had better results, the study said. Available in three resistance levels.

Classical cool vest and cap
The folks at Mason’s Tennis boutique in New York City tipped us off to a particularly hot vest-and-cap combo that will have your guy looking as suave as the Rog: The Fila Essenza sweater vest ($80), along with Roger Federer’s signature Nike “RF” cap ($20).

Video game Wii love
There are a number of tennis-themed Wii games out there but EA Sports’ Grand Slam Tennis ($49.95) lets you pit realistic-looking tour pros past and present, from Roger Federer to an in-his-prime John McEnroe. It is a departure from typical Wii sports games, which require more luck than gaming proficiency. In Grand Slam Tennis, you swing low to high for topspin, high to low for slice, and across your body for a flatter, harder shot.

String tension gauge
We know that strings lose their tension, but when? The Tourna Stringmeter from Unique Sports Products ($34.99) measures current tension the way a gauge measures tire pressure. The two-prong device attaches to the stringbed and reads out the string-bed stiffness. You could be a hit at the club by sharing it with everybody.

Top-left: Switch Vision; Top-right: Oakley; Bottom-left: Bolle; Bottom-right: Bobster

On-court cool
Everybody should use sunglasses for UV protection, but they’re an absolutely essential for tennis servers and outfielders who spend considerable time looking directly into the sun. Bolle CompetiVision Warrant’s tennis-specific shades ($210) make everything that is colored yellow, from taxis to fuzzy Penns and Wilsons, pop. Bobster Gunners ($78.98) wraparounds are “photochromatic,” which means they adapt to changing light conditions and can convert to a goggle for particularly vigorous players. Switch Vision Headwall Swept ($249) comes with four different colored lenses, which are easily swapped out thanks to tiny magnets embedded in the lenses and the frame. And for a casual hitting session with a beat, the wireless Oakley Split Thump ($299) shades have a built-in MP3 player and ear buds.

New racquet
The new frame is always at the top of the gift-worth-giving list, but we can’t give you a specific model or brand. That’s because the right racquet for your giftee has to be tailored to his or her game based on a bunch of variables such as level and style of play (baseliner basher or doubles specialist). That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a racquet under the tree. Pick three or four different loaner frames from the local tennis shop, and wrap them with a big bow and a card that reads “Demo Us First.” If the giftee decides none are suitable after playtesting, go back and get more. Stores may charge small fees for loaners, but they’ll usually credit you when you buy one.

Bill Gray is a senior editor and gear guru at TENNIS magazine. Read his blog, The Pro Shop.

Gear Tips for 10 Common Player Types

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So many racquets and strings, so many choices. And so many player types. To help you cut through some of the gear clutter, we presented Nate Ferguson, founder of Priority One Tennis in Tampa and stringer and racquet customizer to the top pros like Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, with 10 common player identities and asked him for some gear tips for each type. See if you find yourself in one of these 10 and, if not, please give us your personal player type including your level (based on the NTRP scale), the current racquet and string type you use, and what you need to improve your game. We’d like to create a database that covers the basic player types to help us provide more specific information in future equipment reviews in TENNIS magazine and on TENNIS.com. Just click on the "Contact" tab at the top of my blog to send me an email, or post a comment to let us know.

1. The Club Contenders

This 3.5-4.0 doubles team is always in contention for the club championship. They play two-up at net and cut off most passing shots and can retrieve lobs, but they never get past the semis, mainly because they sky or mishit their volleys instead of angling winners at net.

Ferguson: “I recommend they use mid-size standard-length (27-inch) and narrow-beam racquets which will make it easiest to control the angles on volleys. They could also beef up the frames with lead tape at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the sides of the hoop and on top of the handle for extra stability to help them on those off-center hits at net. Larger grip sizes will give them a better feel of where the face of the racquet is on contact. To maximize that feel, they should string with gut—the big three brands are Babolat, Wilson and Prince—strung in the middle of the recommended range for an even balance of power and control.”

Novice players should avoid the temptation of swinging the same stick as their favorite pro. (Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images)

2. The Rookie

Biggest challenge right now is just to keep the ball in play in order to discover the joy of rallying. Hasn’t decided yet on whether to focus on singles or doubles, but aspires to play competitively at the public park or club level. Figures the racquet to buy is the one they saw their favorite pro use on TV.

Ferguson: “Trying to use a tour player’s racquet for a rookie is like getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 Ferrari the day after you get your learner’s permit. A game-improvement racquet is the right call for most rookies, characterized by a big sweet spot (which means at least a 100-square inch head), an open string pattern that will help get the ball deep into the court, and a light weight for easy handling. String can be a good soft synthetic multifilament like Prince Premier Softflex or Technifibre NRG2 in the mid-tension range, then eventually adjusted it up for control or down for power depending on how the Rookie’s game develops.”

3. The Wild Thang

This aggressive 3.5 all-court singles player hits like Godzilla with out-of-control boomers that hit the back fence on the fly. The Thang has no arm or elbow issues. The goal is to play with the 4.0s, who right now aren’t returning calls.

Ferguson: “The Thang needs an even-balanced mid-plus standard-length stick with some significant weight and a dense string pattern (18 mainstrings) that will help curb those chronic out-ball problems. Since the Thang has a healthy hitting arm, he or she might also try a polyester string to deaden the stringbed. Luxilon Big Banger Original and Babolat Hurricane are the toughest and most durable.”

4. The Run ‘n’ Gunner

This 4.5 veteran has lived to rush and crush, but his serve-and-volley style is going the way of wood racquets, so he needs to raise his or her level from the baseline to keep up with the baseline boomers. The Gunner has heard that most of the top pros play with polyester strings for better control and to generate more spin, but is wary that using them could lead to arm and elbow problems which he or she has so far avoided.

Ferguson: “The Gunner doesn’t have to go all the way with polyester. He or she should consider a hybrid mix of the newer softer versions of polyester like Luxilon M2 Pro and Prince Poly EXP in the mainstrings for control and bite, and gut in the crosses to cushion the blow. Both should be strung at low tension for comfort. A lot of tour players, including my top three clients—Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic—use this hybrid combination because it gives them the best of both worlds.”

Murray's Head YouTek Radical racquet is a modern improvement on Agassi's older, oversized frame. (Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

5. The Agassi Idolizer

A 5.0-5.5. player, he shaped his game and gear after his childhood idol, Andre Agassi, right down to the oversized Head Radical racquet strung with Kevlar mainstrings. He’s looking to win the state title this year.

Ferguson: “Oversized racquets are great for beginners and some mid-level players, but they went out with Andre and Michael Chang for tournament level players. Smaller-faced racquets like the mid-plus version of the Radical Andy Murray uses are better for control and they’re more maneuverable and faster through the air on serves. Andre used Kevlar mainstrings to tone down the power of his oversized frame (with gut or nylon in the crosses), but it’s as dead as steel wire and he eventually went to polyester that was almost as durable and a lot more playable. The Idolizer should follow suit.”

6. The Wounded Warrior

First, it was a rotator cuff. Then tennis elbow. Now the Warrior also feels soreness in the wrist. Not looking to improve, just wants to keep from being sidelined. Needs the most comfortable string and tension combination available. Doesn’t care how much it costs, how often it breaks.

Ferguson: “When arm concerns are all-encompassing, you’ve got to think gut at a loose tension for ultimate arm protection or at least a comfort synthetic like a Tecnifibre NRG2 or Technifibre X-1 Biphase. The Warrior should also think about a larger handle to prevent the racquet from twisting which adds stress to the arm. He or she should also consider a soft cushioned replacement grip—Gamma Hi Tech, Prince Duratac, Babolat Syntec, Wilson Cushion Aire Perforated are three—combined with a tacky overgrip to keep from squeezing the racquet tightly at contact. An oversized head is going to reduce shock. Also look at racquets that have an open string pattern (16 mainstrings) that will soften up the stringbed.”

Synethetic multifilament strings are a good investment for players who want durability. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

7. The Pro Tour Wannabe

Aspiration: To get to “The Show,” and she’s willing to practice until she drops. Plays in the zone from the backcourt with bullet passing shots off either side, and is working on rushing to net. Her idols are the Williams sisters and she uses the same Wilson K Factor KBlade Team racquet and strings at their 66-pound tension with gut. But mom and dad are already spending their fortune on lessons and have told her the expensive and highly breakable gut has to go. So she’s looking for a more cost-effective string that will blend durability while maintaining some playability.

Ferguson: “A good synthetic multifilament string with good feel is the best way to go. She should try Prince Lightning or Technifibre X-1 Biphase. If she’s a hard hitter like Venus and Serena, she should string tight at the top of the range for control; if not, in the middle of the range for a blend of control and power.”

8. The Baseline Retriever

A classically trained and grooved 4.0-4.5 player with all the right moves who can trade ground strokes all day and counts unforced errors on one hand. But the Retriever has trouble ending the point with an outright winner and needs strings to supply some added power to defend the club title. Also plans on playing more doubles for social reasons, but that means going to net, which to this baseliner is the twilight zone.

Ferguson: “Gut strung at a lower tension will give the Retriever a cupping feel at net and more power from the baseline. Some lead tape—about three grams placed at the top of the grip and three more grams at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the hoop—will provide more authority on ground strokes and give the Retriever more confidence that the racquet face will stay still when he or she ventures to net.”

9. The Fun & Fitness Combo

This 3.0 doubles team will tell you tennis is mostly a great way to stay in shape, and a lot more fun than “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” with Richard Simmons. They enter the club tournament every year just to support the program, but don’t go home and kick the dog when they lose in the first round. Their racquets are pre-strung Wal-Mart specials.

Ferguson: “They may not care about winning, but they’ll get a lot more fun and exercise out of tennis if they can prolong their rallies. They should start by looking at premium game-improvement high-tech racquets with light weights, head-heavy balances, thick beams and oversized heads that will provide more depth and help keep them in the point longer. They don’t need to use expensive gut, but a good playable synthetic string like Babolat Excell or Prince Synthetic Gut should do nicely, strung in the middle of the tension range for a blend of power and control.”

10. The Spin Doctor

This 3.5-4.0 gives “junk” a good name. In singles, the Doc slices and dices the ball from the baseline to draw opponents to the net and then floats lobs over their heads. The Doc just turned 60 and doesn’t get around quite like before, but wants to maintain the reputation of being the Saturday morning group’s biggest nightmare with topspins, backspins and even sidespins.

Ferguson: “The Doc can accentuate spins with a thin-gauge multifilament like Gamma Pro 18 gauge at low tension. An oversized racquet with a little extra-length is also going to put more slice on the ball for this style player and minimize mishits. The Doc might also downsize the grip to get more wrist into the shots and create even more spin.”

Bill Gray is a senior editor and gear guru at TENNIS magazine. Read his blog, The Pro Shop.

Equipment Update

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You’ve gotten older, but you’ve still got game. Here’s what you need to keep it that way.

By Bill Gray

Racquets
You most likely used a heavy, thin-beamed frame back in the day, like the Dunlop Max 200G, Head Prestige, Prince Graphite or Wilson Pro Staff 85. But now you’re better off using a lighter racquet with a bigger, friendlier face and a wider beam for a power boost. Consider the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 5Fifty or 4D 5Hundred if you played with the Max 200G; the Head Microgel Instinct 100 or YouTek Speed Elite if you’re a former Prestige player; the Prince O3 Speedport Black or Red for Prince Graphite vets; and Wilson’s [K]obra Tour or [K] Pro Team.FX for old Pro Staffers.

Gut String
For your arm’s sake, forget the unforgiving polyester strings a lot of the pros use. Instead try 17-gauge gut strung in the lower to mid range of your frame’s recommended tension for comfort and control. Babolat is the leading brand.

Mid-Cut Shoes
Mid-cuts offer better support to protect against arthritis, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Check out the K-Swiss Ultrascendor Mid for starters.

Acrylic Socks
Unlike cotton, acrylics put you at less risk for athlete’s foot, blisters and ingrown nails. They have air circulation channels and fibers that manage moisture. Try DryMax, Eurosock, Thorlo or Nike Dri-Fit.

Compression Shorts
Also known as bike shorts, they provide support to the thigh, groin and hips. Brands to shop: 2XU, American Wave International, Nike and Under Armour.

Heel Lifts
These cushion and raise the heel in the shoe to reduce stress on the fragile Achilles’ tendon, which can become inflamed or, worse, snap. Popular brands are Algeos, Silipos, Tuli’s and Vasyli Medical.

Braces and Wraps
If you’ve had a history of turning or spraining your ankles, which can lead to significant osteoarthritis, a brace can stabilize your joints. Wraps help retain heat and provide support. Worthy brands include Aircast, AliMed, Bauerfeind, Cho-Pat, Stromgren and Swedo. Make sure you consult with your doctor about which ones would be right for you.

Foot Beds
Over-the-counter brands like Dr. Scholl’s, Sof Sole and Superfeet are good for overall foot comfort, but orthotics that are custom fitted by a doctor, while pricey ($200–$500), are the best option.

Originally published in the October 2009 issue of TENNIS magazine.

Shades of Play

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What goes into choosing the colors of your tennis clothes?

Rafael Nadal shocked the world at this year’s French Open. Not only did he lose his first match at Roland Garros, he also showed up wearing a polo shirt in a shade of pink that Nike calls “bright rose.” Fans and media tore the color apart. One journalist even suggested it made the defending champion seem “less physically imposing,” thus contributing to his early exit. Nadal stood by his choice. “We wear a lot of pink in Spain,” he said. “I think it is a nice color.”

The pink polo incident illustrates the power color has over us. “Color sets a tone, depicts a mood, and speaks to emotions in a personal way for everyone,” says Graham Williamson, vice president of court sports at Adidas. That’s why, when choosing colors for a season, activewear companies go through a process so involved it makes comfort and performance seem almost like afterthoughts.

The brands’ internal design teams create corporate color palettes, dozens of shades that are globally distributed so popular colors can be found in all parts of the world. Some, like the navy and red of Fila’s Heritage collection, carry over each season. Others are chosen to keep up with seasonal fashion trends. (Look out, vibrant ‘80s colors and metallics are coming this fall.)

“Fashion is most critical,” says Claire Ortiz, Wilson’s global apparel and footwear director. “If we’re going against what’s happening in fashion, it doesn’t matter how great a product performs, it just isn’t going to be appealing.”

It typically takes 18 months for a collection to go from concept to product, so there’s a lot of educated guesswork involved in picking timely colors. Designers study architecture, art, film and any other field where a trend might pop up. The bold colors and monochromatic designs of K-Swiss’ spring 2010 collection were inspired by the Olympics and superhero comic books.

Designers also rely on forecasting agencies, such as ESP Trendlab in New York, to provide colors that are expected to be hot that can be incorporated into their brand. “I think of us as the start button for people’s inspiration,” says ESP founder and CEO Ellen Sideri. Inspiration doesn’t come cheap. A customized palette for one season can cost up to $25,000.

But not every trend works for activewear. Dusty, neutral tones are currently fashionable, but a “fresh, sharp, graphic and very positive” palette works for sports retail, Sideri says.

Beyond fashion, consideration goes into fabrics, dyeing processes, and the time of year and the tournament. For instance, the Australian Open, which kicks off the season, is when companies debut brighter colors that set a tone for their collections, like Adidas’ popular neon yellow.

Of course, athletes and consumers play key roles. “It’s really nice to consider the athlete because they represent different types of consumers and how they like to dress,” says Chandler Parker, K-Swiss’ U.S. apparel and accessories product manager. There is a limit, though. Svetlana Kuznetsova asked Fila to design a military green romper for her. “It looked really cute, but we thought it wouldn’t really work at retail,” says Freya Tamayo, Fila’s director of design.

As for Nadal’s pink polo, it was no surprise he went there, says Janice Lucena, Nike’s tennis design director. “He goes for the brightest shades of color in the spectrum.” Lucena also notes that players tend to remember which colors they’re wearing when they win and lose. If that’s true, we probably won’t be seeing Nadal in bright rose anytime soon.

Originally published in the October 2009 issue of TENNIS magazine.

The Incredible Shrinking Grip

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As racquet handles get smaller, spin gets bigger.

Get a grip on this: Racquet handles are downsizing faster than General Motors among both pros and recreational players.

The tree-trunk grips of the Boris Becker (4 5/8 inches) and Monica Seles (4 1/2) era are out. Thin is in.

For example, according to Prince, the average grip size for racquets bought by recreational players has plummeted since 1980, when 58 percent of the company’s racquets sold came with either 4 1/2- or 4 5/8-inch grips. Now 69 percent are either 4 1/4 or 4 3/8, with only 5 percent of grips as large as 4 5/8. Head reports that 4 1/2-inch grips have been shrinking in popularity, so it now produces about the same number of 4 1/4- as 4 1/2-inch grips.

“It’s been a dramatic shift to smaller sizes,” says John McBride, who has worked at Prince for more than 30 years, including 17 years as the company’s purchasing manager.

The reason for the change? Thinner grips make it easier to play in today’s wild-Western forehand, open-stance, wristy style. Rafael Nadal has become the poster player of the skinny gripster set with his 4 1/4 grip, which allows him to snap his wrists into his ground strokes with more ferocity than Alex Rodriguez smacking a home run.

“Players like the thin grips because they can come over the ball much more and whip it,” says Roman Prokes, owner of RPNY Tennis in New York City and stringer to many pro players.

Wilson and Yonex estimate that almost two-thirds of their male pro players are opting for 4 3/8-inch grips these days, while the majority of women who use Babolat frames are going for 4 1/4-inch grips.

“No question, the trend to smaller grips is real,” says Rick Macci, who has coached Jennifer Capriati and Venus and Serena Williams. “The best of the best are using them and there’s been a trickle-down effect to recreational players.”

If you’ve got the skill to generate fast racquethead speed, a smaller grip might be for you. “It increases the whip in the racquet head, and allows you to wrap the heel of your hand below the handle to create more snap and speed on the serve,” Macci says.

Back in the day, thin grips didn’t make any sense. The heavy and clunky wooden clubs of yore required you to use the biggest grip you could hold to lock your wrist in place and prevent the racquet from twisting in your hand when you made contact outside of the small sweet spot.

“Trying to generate spin with those old racquets was practically impossible, like trying to swing a rock with a rope,” says TENNIS racquet adviser Bruce Levine. “Now frames are lighter and more aerodynamic, with open string patterns that put more grab on the ball, making it easy for just about anybody to generate spin.”

And today’s smaller grips make it even easier, helping players put action on the ball with their wrists.

Who has gone the lowest so far on tour? France’s Marion Bartoli plays with a light Prince Speedport Red with an open string pattern and—ready for this—a 4-inch grip, believed to be the thinnest handle used by a pro.

Badminton, anyone?

Originally published in the September 2009 issue of TENNIS magazine.

The Goods

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you're a serious player, you should bring these items to the court.

By Dana Sullivan

1. KELTY FRIDGE-ATOTE
Looking to celebrate after a league win? Pack soda, beer and food in this free-standing cooler. It has an insulated main compartment and two smaller external pockets. And it’s waterproof to keep melted ice from leaking.
$50, kelty.com

2. PRO-TEC ICE-UP PORTABLE ICE MASSAGER
A portable ice pack comes in handy in case of emergency. But icing sore muscles immediately after play also helps speed recovery. The Pro-Tec is reusable and comes with an insulated carrying cooler that keeps ice frozen for up to 10 hours.
$20, balegoonline.org

3. ADIDAS GRAND SLAM VISOR
This lightweight visor has anti-glare lining under the curved brim to prevent reflection off the court.
$16 for women’s (shown here), $18 for men’s; adidas.com

4. SKINCEUTICALS SPORT DEFENSE SUNSCREEN
Made with transparent zinc oxide, this SPF 45 sun block won’t make you look like a ghost. It’s also PABA-, oil- and fragrance-free, which is ideal for people with sensitive skin.
$37 for 3 ounces, skinceuticals.com

5. ALL TERRAIN RECOVERY RUB
Soothe sore muscles with this cooling salve. It’s made with arnica, a natural anti-inflammatory, shea butter and olive oil. Bonus: It’s not greasy and doesn’t have a strong smell like Ben-Gay.
$10 for 3 ounces, allterrainco.com

6. BIOSKIN ELBOW BAND
If elbow pain puts a damper on your game, try this adjustable, breathable band. Though research suggests forearm support bands prevent pain but don’t reduce muscle fatigue, many tennis-elbow sufferers swear by them.
$29, bioskin.com

7. OAKLEY FLAKJACKET SUNGLASSES
Keeping your eyes on the ball is easier with sunglasses that cut glare and don’t obscure your view. The Flak Jacket frames are semi-rimless and can be customized with interchangeable lenses. Choose between standard or XLJ (curved) lenses and a variety of tints. You can also get Transition lenses that adjust to different light conditions.
$145–$220, $50–$100 for additional lenses; oakley.com

8. TERRASOLES BEYOND FLIP-FLOPS
After you play, let your feet air-dry in these flip-flops. The bumps on the foot bed treat you to a mini-massage, and an antimicrobial treatment prevents bacteria from invading your feet.
$40 for women’s (shown here), $50 for men’s; terrasoles.com

9. THORLO EXPERIA SOCKS
Sweaty feet are prone to blisters. Protect your wheels with these socks. They’re cushioned under the ball and heel of the foot, while the mesh polyester fabric helps with breathability.
$14, thorlo.com

Originally published in the August 2009 issue of TENNIS magazine.

Resting on its Laurel Wreath

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Fred Perry embraces its past to make greater strides in the future.

At the new Fred Perry store that opened in January in New York, they’re selling more than merchandise. They’re selling heritage. The walls, painted marine blue, are decorated with photographs depicting the company’s legacy. There’s Fred J. Perry, the company’s founder and the last British man to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon (he won it three times, 1934–’36). On another wall is musician Paul Weller, leader of 1970s punk group The Jam and representative of the company’s musical heritage. All that’s missing is a photo of the label’s newest icon, Scotland’s Andy Murray, Britain’s best hope for a Wimbledon title in years.

It might seem like a risky time to open a store, the company’s first in the United States, but according to John Young, country manager in the U.S., Fred Perry, like Murray, has been on a hot streak. “The brand has had its most dynamic growth the last three years. Our retail shops around the world have impacted this,” he says. The company isn’t out for world domination, though. “We’re a niche brand. Our prices are the same as Nike, but we keep it special.”

Adam Rapoport, style editor at GQ magazine, says part of the company’s success comes from knowing its place in the market. “They’re very aware of who they appeal to. They appeal to hipster fashion kids, and then they sell to people who actually play tennis.”

Tennis, of course, is where the company got its start in the late 1940s. Its first product was perhaps the least sexy item in sportswear, the sweatband. But that successful venture was nothing compared to what officially launched the company, the polo shirt.

The short-sleeved, piqué cotton polo was introduced to tennis in the late 1920s by French player René Lacoste. Perry’s polo debuted in 1952 at Wimbledon. It was white, naturally, and had a green laurel wreath insignia, which Perry lifted from the wreath sewn on the ribbons once awarded to Wimbledon champions. Perry had top players wear the shirts and eventually added their monograms for a personal touch. Retail sales soared.

In the ’60s, players outfitted in Fred Perry included Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King. John F. Kennedy was a fan of the polo, as were England’s scooter-riding, soul-music-loving Mods, which kicked off the company’s connection to music. Today, the Perry family has no involvement with the company (Perry sold his financial stake in 1961). It remains a U.K.-based operation but is a subsidiary of Japanese apparel manufacturer Hit Union Company Ltd.

That’s not all that’s changed. The once-omnipresent tennis collection now accounts for just 7 percent of the brand’s revenue. To keep up with sports apparel trends, the company added Activair, a lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric, to its tennis line. The polo now comes in 36 colors. The company has a high-end Laurel collection and is pushing its youth-oriented Subculture music website and concerts. There are no plans, however, to change the company’s familiar design. “That’s like saying there are plans to change tennis,” Young says.

And in these tough economic times, Fred Perry’s iconic style might be the company’s greatest asset. “During a recession, buyers are forced to look at what’s always been popular, and go back to their roots,” says Caroline Shnay, men’s buyer for retail chain Scoop. “The Fred Perry polo is timeless.”

Perry, who died in 1995, would have turned 100 in May. At Wimbledon, Murray will pay homage to his tennis forefather by wearing a more traditional kit: fitted shorts, a polo style shirt, a classic bomber jacket and his initials under the laurel wreath. An even more fitting tribute, one the company wouldn’t mind adding to its heritage, would be Murray raising the trophy.

Originally published in the July 2009 issue of TENNIS magazine.

Different Sticks for Different Strokes

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The pros adjust their racquets to suit their games. You should, too.

Tennis players are a loyal bunch. Once they get used to their racquets, they’re reluctant to change. Still, you should keep your options open. If your game has stalled, consider trying a new frame with specs that better match your style of play. From there, experiment with grip sizes, adding weight, and even more radical customizations. “Nine out of 10 players at all levels can see improvements in their games through customizing,” says racquet customizer and TENNIS technical adviser Roman Prokes. His first recommendation: Add weight to your frame with lead tape. “The idea that a lighter racquet is better is a misconception,” Prokes says. But where should you add weight, and what other changes should you make? Like the pros, you should customize to suit your strengths. The chart below shows common setups for different styles of play. But remember: Every player is unique, so make sure your adjustments don’t compromise your feeling of comfort with your frame.

Racquets 1-4 (Photos by Getty Images)

1. THE POWER BASELINER
Are your strengths a Western forehand and heavy topspin like Rafael Nadal? “Head heavy generally works better,” Prokes says. Nadal adds weight to his lightweight factory Babolat Aero Drive frame, giving it a head-heavy balance. Adding lead tape closer to the top of the frame at 10 and 2 o’clock rather than 9 and 3 will accentuate this even more. Nadal also plays with an unusually small 4 1/4 grip, a trend popularized by Sergi Bruguera and Gustavo Kuerten in the ’90s. “Smaller grip sizes are the trend across the board,” Prokes says. The smaller grip gives Nadal more flexibility in his wrist to come over the ball and generate the immense spin that is the hallmark of his game.

2. THE DOUBLE TWO-HANDER
While Marion Bartoli’s strokes may be unorthodox, she’s a great example of how to think outside the box with your racquet. Bartoli hits with two hands on both sides using a unique, custom-built 29-inch Prince O3 Red. The ultra-long racquet (it’s the longest you can use legally) gives her hands room to hold the grip and affords her extra reach, which helps offset her average movement. “It’s a light frame,” Prokes says. “It has to be so she can swing a racquet that long. But it feels heavy because there’s weight added to the head.” While it’s hard to find a 29-inch racquet off the shelf, there are many extralong frames between 27 and 28 inches that will help you maximize your game.

3. THE ALL-COURT PLAYER
For all-courters, net-rushers and doubles players, Prokes recommends a head-light racquet: “You can maneuver it better.” Roger Federer is a classic all-courter. He hits heavy topspin drives and biting slices, looking for opportunities to end points with baseline winners or well-placed volleys. To do this, his Wilson [K] Six.One Tour is heavy, head light (the added weight is concentrated on the handle), and has a very small 90-square-inch head. But Federer also plays with a small 4 3/8 grip to maximize wrist action for added spin. Federer’s all-court setup combines the weight and feel of the classic attacker, with the wrist-snapping, topspin-friendly grip of the modern power-baseline game.

4. THE BIG SERVER
Michael Chang famously switched to a longer frame in search of a bigger serve. Today’s biggest server, Andy Roddick, also plays with a frame half an inch longer than the standard 27 inches. His Babolat Pure Drive is already more powerful than the typical tour player’s racquet, and extra weight in the head helps Roddick plow through the ball on his serve. Adding weight to a longer racquet increases its swingweight—how heavy it feels when you swing— more than on a standard length, so be conservative with the lead tape if you choose a long frame. “There’s a medium amount of weight added,” Prokes says, “so when you take his racquet in your hand, it feels heavy.”

Balance Point

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Do you know your racquet's "swingweight"? You should.

What’s the right weight for my racquet?” It’s one of the more common questions any prospective racquet buyer asks. Yet the weight of a racquet is just a number. It won’t tell you how it’s going to feel in your hand, or, more importantly, in motion. A better question to consider is how the weight is distributed throughout the frame. In other words, is there more weight toward the head or toward the handle?

The balance and weight of a racquet are two critical attributes in determining how a stick will perform. The measurements are inextricably linked. “You have to combine weight and balance. You can’t divorce one from the other,” says Roman Prokes, TENNIS technical adviser and owner of RPNY Tennis, a retail and racquet customization shop in New York. “You can’t just say, ‘I want a headheavy racquet.’ Then it has to be lighter in [overall] weight. Otherwise the racquet would feel too heavy for you.”

To determine whether a racquet is head heavy or head light, you need to find its balance point. If a racquet is the standard 27-inch length and evenly balanced, its balance point will be in the middle (13.5 inches from either end). If the balance point is closer to the top of the frame, it’s head heavy. If it’s toward the butt cap, it’s head light. The more severe the positioning of the balance point in either direction, the more head heavy or head light the racquet will feel.

To get a hands-on feel for balance, pick up two racquets by the handles. If the racquets have identical weights, they’ll feel the same when you hold them with the head of the frame pointing down toward the court. But when you hold the frame parallel to the court, as you would when hitting a stroke, the racquet with more weight in the head will feel heavier because more of its weight is distributed farther from your hand. For example, if you have an 11-ounce head-light racquet and a 10-ounce headheavy racquet, the head-heavy frame could feel heavier in your hand.

“I’ve had people come into my shop and hold up the Wilson [K] Five, a light racquet, and tell me it feels heavy,” Prokes says. “Then they hold Federer’s racquet [the [K] Six.One Tour], the heaviest one I carry, and tell me it feels light. That’s because they’re talking about the balance.”

The [K] Six.One Tour weighs over 2 ounces more, but because the [K] Five 108 has so much of its weight in the head, it can feel just as heavy. Light racquets like the 10.1-ounce [K] Five 108 generally have to be head heavy to provide power and maintain stability. Otherwise, the racquet will twist too much on off-center hits. Conversely, heavier racquets, which are more stable and absorb more shock, tend to be head light so they don’t feel unwieldy.

Swingweight
The perceived disparity between what a racquet weighs and how it feels in a player’s hand is why some racquet experts prefer to use another spec. “Ideally everyone should be getting away from talking about weight and balance, and instead talking about one number, which is swingweight,” says David Bone, TENNIS technical adviser and executive director of the United States Racquet Stringers Association. “If you know the swingweight of a racquet, you don’t need to know the length of the racquet, you don’t need to know the weight of the racquet, you don’t need to know the balance of the racquet. All of those get incorporated.”

Swingweight is a measurement of how heavy a racquet feels when you swing it, or, in more scientific terms, when rotated around a point roughly 4 inches from the bottom of the butt cap. This is where most players hold the frame when they play. The unit of measurement is kilogram centimeter squared (kg·cm2), but it’s often simply referred to as swingweight units. A racquet with a relatively high swingweight would measure around 350, and a frame that is exceptionally maneuverable would be in the 270 range.

Going back to those Wilson racquets, the [K] Six.One Tour has a swingweight of 331, while the [K] Five 108 measures at 335. The significantly lighter racquet actually takes more effort to swing. At the center of the swingweight universe, according to the USRSA, are frames that fall between 310 and 315. Two racquets with identical weights and balance points can have differing swingweights depending on how the weight is distributed throughout the frame. That precision is the reason why most racquet experts consider swingweight to be preferable to talking about the weight and balance of a racquet.

“In scientific terms, measuring weight and balance makes sense,” Prokes says. “But when you go on the court the numbers can lie.”

Why isn’t swingweight more commonly used? Word is spreading. All manufacturers know the swingweights of their racquets and some make the information available on their websites. Many tennis shops use an expensive piece of equipment to find the number (the Babolat RDC machine is the most common). If that isn’t an option, you can check certain online retailers.

Still, as with weight and balance, swingweight is just a reference point. The only real measurement that matters is how the racquet performs in your hand. No number can tell you that.

Back in Business

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After nearly two decades away, apparel giant Adidas is coming out with new racquets.

If you’re of a certain age, here’s an image you can probably call to mind easily: the lean, intense form of Ivan Lendl on court. His racquet, with that peculiarly small, egg-shaped head, always seemed ready to deliver another devastating forehand. For many years, you might recall, the stencil painted on that heavy weapon was the same as the graphic on his shirt, the Adidas trefoil.

Get ready to see an Adidas logo on players’ sticks again. In February, the company is returning to selling racquets after an 18-year hiatus. “We’ve never been stronger in tennis than we currently are,” says Simon Cartwright, Adidas’ vice president of global tennis. “So the time to expand seemed perfect.” Will this inspire other shoe and apparel companies to enter the marketplace? Executives at Nike, often rumored to be interested in producing racquets, just as they crossed over into golf clubs, offered no comments.

Three Adidas racquets will be released in collaboration with Keentech, one of the world’s largest racquet manufacturers. In developing the frames, Adidas consulted Nate Ferguson, a racquet specialist who has worked with many top touring pros, including Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. The new frames will be named after three Adidas tennis shoes: the Barricade, the Response and the Feather. In an era when most racquet-makers offer dozens of distinct models, Adidas’ plan amounts to an argument for simplicity.

The Barricade Tour ($185) is the one you’ll see the pros swinging. The frame weighs around 12 ounces, comparable to players’ favorites like the Wilson [K] Six-One and the Head Microgel Prestige, and features a dense, 18-by-20 string pattern for control. In the intermediate category there’s the Response ($145), which is lighter and has a thicker beam for more power. For the recreational player who wants a lightweight racquet that generates power even with a short swing, there’s the Feather ($165).

All the racquets feature an easily identifiable paint job of three thick stripes on the frame’s head. Not to be outdone in the realm of technical advancement, the company has bestowed the Barricade with Power Structure Technology, which adds weight at 3 and 9 o’clock on the racquet head. It’s designed to give the frame extra stability with an enhanced sweet spot.

In the 1980s, Lendl used the Adidas GTX Pro, which was based on his previous racquet, the Kneissl White Star. Which current players might start swinging the three stripes? Adidas refuses to confirm the players it’s negotiating with, but the temptation is to look at those who have shoe and clothing deals with the company. “It’s probably fair to assume that our athletes will come out of that base,” Cartwright says, “but we haven’t officially reached agreement with anybody.” There’s no shortage of top players sponsored by the company, including Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina. All would make worthy successors to the Lendl endorsement legacy.