| Racquets Basic Racquet Facts
USRSA Technical Advisor Steve Davis
- A heavier frame generates more power. If you're interested
in more power, try adding weight in gradual increments...say 3 or 4 grams at a time.
- A heavier frame vibrates less.
- A heavier frame has a larger sweetspot.
- A stiffer frame generates more power.
- A stiffer frame has a larger sweetspot.
- A stiffer frame transmits more of the shock load to the arm
than a more flexible frame.
- A stiffer frame provides a more uniform ball response across
the entire string plane.
- A larger frame generates more power.
- A larger frame is more resistant to twisting.
- A larger frame has a larger sweetspot.
- A longer frame generates more velocity and therefore more
power.
- The string bed in a longer frame generates more spin due to
increased velocity.
TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY,
"DEMO" BEFORE BUYING!
If you are looking into buying a new racket and you read
about the latest and greatest in a magazine advertisement, don't simply go out and buy the
frame. Take the time to demo several different rackets to find out which one best suits
your game.
Any good tennis pro shop and many sporting goods stores will
have a racket demo (demonstration) program, with a number of the latest frames available
to try out. Compare programs (by telephone, first), if more than one is available to you.
Different stores in the same city might have very different practices.
If trying your potential purchase before you buy is not
possible, at least try and talk to a qualified professional about your frame choice and
your style of play. A pro can often lead you to a racket that is well-suited to your
tennis game. Given the costs involved and the fact that the racket will be with you for
some time to come, it is definitely worth the extra investment of time and energy.
WHEN TO RETIRE AN EXPENSIVE RACKET
Maybe you spent several hundred dollars three years ago for a
great new racket. Don't be afraid to replace the frame when it becomes worn out, just
because you paid a lot for it when you bought it.
Almost all rackets today are made from some combination of
graphite and other composite materials. These rackets are made of thousands of very small,
very stiff fibers. Each time you hit the ball, some of these fibers break. When you break
a string, the racket will briefly change shape, breaking even more fibers.
The end result is that after a certain amount of time, the
frame will start to become "dead" or "fatigued." This will happen
sooner, if you play very often, hit the ball with a lot of force or break a lot of
strings. Once a racket reaches this point, it is time to retire it for a new frame - if
you want to justice to yourself and your enjoyment of the sport!
What's in the Bag
10 ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO CARRY ONTO THE
COURT 
1. Extra rackets: Breaking a string in the middle of a match
is disconcerting, but lacking a suitable replacement can be devastating. Many pro players
carry up to seven replacements in their bags. For recreational players, whose rackets
typically aren't strung as tightly as the pros, two or three replacements should be
sufficient.
2. Grip tape: During a match, your hand can become sweaty and
cause your racket to slip. Don't get frustrated, get a grip. Changing your grip will help
you retain your hold.
3. Bandages: Tennis isn't a contact sport, but painful
blisters and minor cuts can occur during the course of the match, so Band-Aids can provide
instant treatment.
4. Water: To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water before,
during and after a match.
5. Spare shirts: If you sweat profusely, consider bringing a
change of clothes. A shirt change is the quickest way to help you feel and look more
comfortable on the court.
6. Socks: Whether you play on hard courts, where your feet
can take a pounding, or on clay courts, where your feet can get dirty, changing socks
between sets can provide your feet with added protection and comfort.
7. Sunscreen: if you're playing outdoors
8. A baseball cap: Trying to serve while squinting into a
strong sun is about as fun as trying to hang-glide in a hurricane. Wearing a baseball cap
will help reduce the glare and improve your sight.
9. Sweatbands: Former top-ranked player Ivan Lendl was famous
for wiping his forehead with the thick, white sweatbands on his wrists. You may not need
the extra-wide sweatbands worn by Lendl, but sweatbands can stop the sweat from spilling
onto your hands.
10. A towel: The best way to wipe sweat off your face and
hands is with the towel.
Source
Equipment
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Strings
Basic String Facts
USRSA Technical Advisor Steve Davis
Lower string tensions generate more power
(providing string movement does not occur).
Higher string tensions generate more ball
control (for experienced players).
A longer string (or string plane area)
produces more power.
Decreased string density (fewer strings)
generates more power.
Thinner string generates more power.*
More elastic strings generate more power.
(Generally, what will produce more power will also absorb more shock load at impact.)
Softer strings, or strings with a softer
coating, tend to vibrate less.
Thinner strings tend to produce more spin.
Decreased string density (fewer strings)
generates more spin.
The more elastic the string, the more
tension loss in the racquet after the string job.*
*Pre-stretching aligns (stretches) the
polymer chains in the string and "sets" the string, which reduces tension loss,
albeit slightly. Generally, the more pre-stretching (prior to stringing) the less tension
loss after stringing.
| Take Home Message: String tighter for more control, looser for more power. |
Your racquet should be restrung as many
times in a year as you play in a week. So if you play three times a week, your racquet
should be strung at least three times a year.
Shoes
It is essential to have tennis-specific sneakers. Donning
your old track shoes simply will not do. The stopping and starting motions, as well as the
quick direction changes involved in tennis, require special features. The key is to find a
tennis sneaker that is both durable enough to protect your feet against overuse injury and
light enough that it doesn't interfere with your agility and performance. Here are some
features to look for in a sneaker:
1. Cushioning: Your feet should get a soft landing when they
hit the ground, not a thud.
2. Support: A shoe that holds onto your feet firmly as you
change direction has good support. Shoes designed for hard court usually have the most.
3. Toe cap: Many players drag their toe when they serve or
hit their strokes. A sneaker with an extra-thick piece of rubber at the top of the toe can
prevent the shoe from wearing out in that area.
4. Flat bottom: Some manufacturers have been cutting the
midsole out to make the shoe lighter and more stylish. But you need to have constant
contact with the court to maintain stability, balance and alignment.
5. Flexibility: Shoes with mesh uppers or a combination of
mesh and leather tend to be lighter and breathe easier than shoes with all-canvas or
all-leather uppers.
6. Construction for your game: Find shoes that are best for
your playing surface. Today's outsoles are tailored for grass, clay or hard courts. A
suitable tread prevents slippage. Check whether your soles have EVA or PU midsoles: EVA
gives a more cushioned feel and PU tends to be firmer.
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Balls
The official International Tennis Federation-approved ball is
made from pressurized air and a wool/nylon covering called the nap and is white or yellow
with stitchless seams. The more air pressure the ball has, the more "life" it
has. Balls with too little pressure (dead balls) make a thud sound when they bounce - if
they bounce! Playing with dead balls will not improve your game and can lead to arm
injuries, such as tennis elbow. The nap on the balls affects how it interacts with the
court surface. Not all naps are the same. The two major kinds of balls to choose from are:
1. Regular-duty balls: Better on clay and indoor carpet
because the nap is more tightly woven and does not get fluffy.
2. Extra-duty balls: Better on hard courts because they are
more durable and do not go bald as fast as regular-duty balls.
Source
MATCH THE BALLS TO THE SURFACE
If you've never noticed when buying tennis balls, many cans
are designated for different surfaces - such as indoor courts, hard courts and soft or
clay courts.
This is not just a marketing ploy. The balls do have
different characteristics that improve their performance on the various surfaces: to wear
longer on hard courts, or not pick up too much surface and moisture on clay courts, for
example.
For the best performance out of the balls you play with, you
should match the ball type to the surface you plan on playing with them on.
NEW BALLS PLAY BEST
If you don't play tennis too often, you probably have some
old balls in the closet that you grab before heading out to the courts. This might be fine
for the occasional practice. If you play matches or if you are practicing for tournament
or league play, however, you should open a new can of balls every time you play.
Tennis balls start losing their compression as soon as the
can is opened. If you have a strong grip, take an old ball and a new ball and squeeze them
both. The difference is striking. The old ball (maybe only even a day or two old) is much
softer and mushier than the brand new ball.
Soft balls are useful if you practice alone against a wall or
backboard. They don't come back as fast, making the experience more like full court
tennis.
REGULAR vs EXTRA DUTY
You should use a regular duty ball on clay or indoor courts.
Extra duty balls last longer on rough, hard asphalt and cement courts.
Or, you can mix things up. If you like a fast game, try using
a regular duty ball on a hard court. To practice your form and positioning, slow down with
an extra duty ball on a clay court.
PENN'S NEW BALL
Penn has introduced the Penn OS ball, one of the first
oversized "type 3" balls to be marketed under new ITF specifications that went
into effect January 1, 2000. The Penn OS ball measures 6% larger than a
"standard" ball, but weighs no more. ITF- and USTA-approved, the ball gives
players more time to set up for their shots, helps them achieve more consistent shot
placement, is easier to see and promotes longer points.
Major Tennis
Equipment Manufacturers
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