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Tennis people - I'm looking for a new racket, recommendations wanted.

purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
So I haven't played tennis in a couple years (well not any more frequent than like 3 times a year or so) and my friends and I are going to get back into it, and I'm going to get my GF a racket as well so we can play (she's very beginner).

I have no clue what really makes a racket good or what, and I used to play somewhat often when I was like in highschool (i'm 24 now) and was decent. I am going to just go to sports authority and probably just choose one tonight after I workout.

I am looking to spend like $50 max for a racket for myself, and probabyl like $20-$30 for one for my GF since she's not going to use it that much and a complete beginner. I came accross this one in the ad at sports authority.

Head TI.S2

It is originally $170 and is marked down to $50, so I am assuming it has to be somewhat decent. Also, what advantage/disadvantage does oversized rackets give you?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

EDIT 7-21-06

Well I ended up getting the Ti.S2 last night. I went to a sports authority on Monday and they did not have any out on the shelf so I left. I went to another one on Tuesday and they didnt have any either but he checked in the back and they had none, but I almost got the Ti.S6 ($230 originally) for $50, but the manager would not knock it down that much from $80. So yesterday after I went to the gym I decided to stop at the Sports Authority that was near the gym (same one I went to on Monday) to see if they had any in the back. They ended up having 1 more left which was actually out to purcase, so I picked it up. I picked up that Think Pink one for my girlfriend and we played for like 20 minutes last night before it got dark.

My GF is a straight up beginner, it's only her first time ever playing, so I couldn't really get any real hits in. I did let a few rip though which of course she couldn't return heh, but so far I was really liking my racket. I was pretty surprised how quickly my swing came back to me and I was ripping some forearm shots just like I used to. I tried to serve like 5 times pretty hard and most of them were no where being in, but I ended up getting 1 in, which felt good.

I'm sure it will come back to me pretty quickly. I wish I had stuck with tennis though and never stopped playing it. When I think about it I don't know why I stopped playing it. I think it was just when I went to college and th epeople I used to play witht weren't around so I kinda stopped.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: purbeast0
lol damn, no one?
Click to expand...

i guess ATOT is not very atheletic.
Click to expand...

Yah I don't know what I was thinking 😛

But all kidding aside I know there are some people who know a thing or two about tennis.
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well, people post YAGT here... so your odds are pretty good 🙂
 
I like Wilson rackets... that Head racket looks good to me.

Best to do is to try them out, see what weight/swing style is best for you.
 
I am a tennis player, playing for about 20 years or so. I use the oversize racquets as there is more surface area to ball hitting. That sounds like a decent raquet for the price that you have posted. If its prestrung, have it restrung as its usually crap...thats what Ive noticed in all prestrung racquets. Take a look at www.tennis-warehouse.com for info on the technical terms ....tension hard or soft, swing style, size of head comparison etc.
 
Go to a tennis shop and do a demo program (most places have them). It's $25 or so, you can try out all the rackets you like, and then when you choose one you like they'll take the $25 off the price. To start though, I'd look for a racket with a nice balance of power and control if you havent' played in a while. Something with a medium sized head (98 square inches) and a medium thickness frame. Let me see if I can find you a good example..

Dunlop
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=600G

Head
(this is a very popular racket and would be perfect until you start playing more often)
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LM4

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LMFIRE

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LMHEAT

Prince
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PADB

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTB

Yonex (I currently play with a Yonex racket and love it)
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=URQS8

Wilson has a bunch of rackets but you get the idea. Something light, something with a medium head size, and evenly balanced-little head heavy would be your best bet IMO.

Edit: Sorry, I didn't read your preferred price. The first racket you listed is perfecly fine for your needs, and similar to the rackets I listed.
 
At your (our) level, $30-$60 will suffice. I went to a store recently too and they're all marked down from $200 to like $50 for the top end rackets.
 
Originally posted by: JS80
At your (our) level, $30-$60 will suffice. I went to a store recently too and they're all marked down from $200 to like $50 for the top end rackets.
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Yea I figure it'll be enough for me, and I'll probably only play 1 or 2 times a week.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: JS80
At your (our) level, $30-$60 will suffice. I went to a store recently too and they're all marked down from $200 to like $50 for the top end rackets.
Click to expand...

Yea I figure it'll be enough for me, and I'll probably only play 1 or 2 times a week.
Click to expand...

I would say 1-2 times per week would be more than a beginner would play. That being said, the racket you listed would be a good fit. As you get better, you might want less power and more control, but currently, that racket would be perfect.

Edit: However, I'd still recommend you find a shop that will allow you to demo the rackets first. You might love a racket the first time you play with it, but after a week decide it's not for you.
 
i was in a similar situation in that i used to play tennis way back when, but stopped playing during high school. i recently started playing again (just turned 24) and was searching around for a racquet. i asked people, friends, tennis "pros", etc. everyone had good advice to give, but nothing compares to actually using a racquet.

i purchased a fairly expensive racquet, but i'm absolutely in love with it. i'm extremely happy with my decision. search for the wilson npro open on wilson's site or check out the tennis warehouse link. it's one of the lightest racquets i've ever used and it's very balanced. it's got a little more power (which lowers playability) than i would like, but i'll change it around when i get it restrung. i got it strung at a local shop with the kirschbaum competition in the mains and wilson sensation in the cross strings. tension about 57.
http://www.wilson.com/wilson/racq/flash.jsp?inSp=tn&bmLocale=en
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=NPO

my advice: don't rush the purchase! my dad bought a racquet on someone else's recommendation and now he's suffering from painful wrist cramps because the racquet is too rigid for him. take your time and demo a few racquets.


=|
 
Well I ended up getting the Ti.S2 last night. I went to a sports authority on Monday and they did not have any out on the shelf so I left. I went to another one on Tuesday and they didnt have any either but he checked in the back and they had none, but I almost got the Ti.S6 ($230 originally) for $50, but the manager would not knock it down that much from $80. So yesterday after I went to the gym I decided to stop at the Sports Authority that was near the gym (same one I went to on Monday) to see if they had any in the back. They ended up having 1 more left which was actually out to purcase, so I picked it up. I picked up that Think Pink one for my girlfriend and we played for like 20 minutes last night before it got dark.

My GF is a straight up beginner, it's only her first time ever playing, so I couldn't really get any real hits in. I did let a few rip though which of course she couldn't return heh, but so far I was really liking my racket. I was pretty surprised how quickly my swing came back to me and I was ripping some forearm shots just like I used to. I tried to serve like 5 times pretty hard and most of them were no where being in, but I ended up getting 1 in, which felt good.

I'm sure it will come back to me pretty quickly. I wish I had stuck with tennis though and never stopped playing it. When I think about it I don't know why I stopped playing it. I think it was just when I went to college and th epeople I used to play witht weren't around so I kinda stopped.
 
If you weren't from maryland we could play 🙂

I find that Head pre-strung rackets have the best quality strings. Much springier and smoother than my old Wilson or my friend's prince. Good choice.
 
Originally posted by: junkerman123
If you weren't from maryland we could play 🙂

I find that Head pre-strung rackets have the best quality strings. Much springier and smoother than my old Wilson or my friend's prince. Good choice.
Click to expand...

Heh it's been so long since I have played, I'm sure I would be happy with just about any racket and that hitting any racket would feel good 😛
 
At that price range I dont think it matters. My wife got a Prince O3 which I tried out and its sweet, like the ball really flies out of it with the lightest tap.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: junkerman123
If you weren't from maryland we could play 🙂

I find that Head pre-strung rackets have the best quality strings. Much springier and smoother than my old Wilson or my friend's prince. Good choice.
Click to expand...

Heh it's been so long since I have played, I'm sure I would be happy with just about any racket and that hitting any racket would feel good 😛
Click to expand...

Maybe, although I think if you tried my friend's crappy Prince racket you'd want to smash it against the ground. My friend always uses my old Wilson when we play because his racket sucks so much.
 
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