Tennis racquet recommendations for a n00b novice?

[fatbaby]

I have no idea what brands i should buy, no idea which brands are the best either.

I was thinking wilson or dunlop as they are very popular, but what would you reccomend? and what do you reccomend i look for?

 

[Rallispec]

for somebody starting out, get a cheap one. they're all basically the same until you start getting really good. then a better racket might make a differenc.e

 

[EXman]

Prince or Wilson low end models are good for you. some $<$40 are not worth a dime.

 

[StattlichPassat]

I like Wilson- I'm more into raquetball, but I found a nice 'Titanium' (well, it's really light anyway..) Wilson at Wal-Mart for $12 last year. Very well made, works well.

 

[Aquaman]

My recommendation is to try to get some loaner racquets........... play with them for a bit and see how you like them. MOst shops will have some loaners that you could borrow.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[loup garou]

A Prince Triple Threat is <$75. I think that was my first racquet. Got I haven't played tennis in years...I should really start again.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

These days most racquets look like snow shovels. Good racquet primer

racquet selection for idiots
2002 rankings include a section for weak players

 

[fatbaby]

i'm looking for one that will last

well i've been eyeing these 2 racquets so far:

This $45 wilson

or

a $40 prince

I did some research, and realized that for n00bs, a 107 in. head would be perfect

which one out of these would you pick?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

My recommendation is to try to get some loaner racquets........... play with them for a bit and see how you like them. MOst shops will have some loaners that you could borrow.

Excellent advice . . .

I like Wilson- I'm more into raquetball, but I found a nice 'Titanium' (well, it's really light anyway..) Wilson at Wal-Mart for $12 last year. Very well made, works well.

Wilson does make some of the best racquets . . . as well as some of the worst. DO NOT buy a racquet b/c it is light. You want the head to be light but the overall weight should exceed 11oz.
Light racquet partisans argue that because you can swing the light racquet faster, it will hit harder than a heavy racquet. Granted that if you have the time and energy to execute a long violent stroke, you can swing the light racquet faster and get greater head velocity on impact. Three problems with that: (1) a violent stroke is harder to control; (2) when you are stretching for a shot, you don't have time to execute a long stroke, so velocity will be small and because racquet weight is small also, your shot will be weak; and (3) the light, fast racquet will slow down a lot on impact, stressing the arm. All of that lost energy will have to go somewhere, like your arm. Momentum (mass times velocity) and not force (mass times acceleration) or energy (1/2 mass times velocity squared) is what counts in a collision. Oops, sorry -- a little scary physics there, but the point is crucial for understanding the principle. It's an elementary point called Conservation of Momentum, which any first semester physics student should know. It is a common mistake to think that high racquet kinetic energy is desirable, and therefore a badminton racquet is the best because you can swing it fastest.

What you want is a racquet that will give you the most ball speed for the least effort (Efficiency), and which will not stress your elbow or shoulder (Elbow Safety and Shoulder Safety). What you don't want is to put in a lot of effort on a wild shot that wrecks your arm.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I would scan the yard sales for old school wooden Wilson Pro Staffs.