How to choose the best tennis racquet to fit your level, playing style and body type

This is a monthly contribution by tennis coach Marcin Bieniek, giving us tips on how to pick the most suitable tennis racquet. 

Technology development goes faster than ever and improvements are made to make specific equipment more comfortable and more effective for users. In that respect, is a new tennis racquet a remedy for your game? Yes, it can be, but only if you pick the right one!

A lot of experts say that a good player will play with any racquet. I agree with this statement. Hard work is much more important than the product, so even when you have a brand new Babolat or Head, you will not achieve great results if you don’t break a sweat during the practice session.

However, we have to remember that there is a difference between playing tennis and achieving one’s own potential. With improper racquet, top players will be able to play points, but they won’t have chances to come to their highest possible level. Therefore, if you care about your development and you want to reach big goals, you should make sure that the stick you carry in your hand is the tool that makes you a better player.

Right equipment can make a difference in your game. If you feel well while playing, you can beat a lot of rivals. Better control, more power or good maneuverability are factors that can take your game to the next level. All these areas can be improved by choosing the right racquet. At the same time you have to remember that picking wrong equipment can have negative impact on the same areas, so your decision should be based on knowledge – not on anything else.

Players at all levels make different decisions about their equipment. Some of them choose the racquet based just on the company likeness. Others look only at design and they don’t care too much about what the racquet has to offer. There are also groups of players who focus on price, favorite player or friend’s recommendation when they want to change their racquet. All these approaches are not helping your game. If you really want to take the most of your equipment and make sure it gives you more than just a nice look, you should take into consideration the following tips.

1. LEVEL OF PLAY

Yes, it is really important at which level you currently play. Heavy Roger Federer’s racquet won’t make you play as well as Fedex and additionally it can put enough pressure on your shoulders to break your game and get you closer to injury. Be humble and work your game up to achieve desired level of play. If you are an amateur, research racquets available for this group of players and pick the most suitable one, like for example the Head Graphene XT Speed PWR. Don’t care about others’ opinions. It is your game and racquet is your tool to improve. As in any area of life, if you are well-prepared, you will achieve good results.

2. STYLE OF PLAY

If you are not aware of your game style, choosing your new racquet is a lottery. Only consciousness will help you improve your tennis by picking a product that will make your performance more effective. Are you an advanced baseline player? Look for smaller racquet’s head and more weight to get powerful forehands and backhands, like this Wilson Pro Staff 97 S. Love to play from all areas on the court? Well-balanced racquet with good maneuverability is a choice for you, like for example this Pacific BXT X Force Pro No. 1.

3. TYPE OF BODY

Your body has a tremendous impact on your game. Serena Williams wouldn’t benefit from defensive style based on running deep behind the baseline. John Isner is not a player who should focus on consistent rally based on heavy topspin shots. The same story applies to you. Your body is unique and you should pick a racquet according to your type. If you are strong and have a lot of power, you can benefit a lot from a heavier racquet like Babolat Pure Strike 18×20. If your body type is skinny, then lighter racquet will be a good choice to improve your game, such as Head Graphene XT Instinct S.

Again, remember to focus on right factors while changing equipment – only this approach will guarantee that your change will be effective.

Marcin Bieniek is a professional tennis coach and founder of instructional website TennisIsland.us. He is also an author of Enjoy Tennis Blog. Marcin has been working with USTA, Top 100 ITF and WTA/ATP players. Currently he is working with Top 200 ITF female junior. He is a frequent contributor to TennisPro and TenisKlub magazines and he was a speaker at International Coaching Tennis Symposium 2016 at Hilton Head Island, USA. 

MORE FROM MARCIN BIENIEK:

• How to handle playing tennis in sunny conditions and even take it to your advantage
• 5 Portable Fitness Tools for Serious Tennis Players
• Best Foam Roller Exercises for Tennis Players