Our buying
guides will give you all the information you need to ensure you find the
perfect Snauwaert equipment to improve your game.
Our tennis
experts advise customers every day on purchasing tennis racquets. Here are some
of the key factors to take into consideration before you buy:
WEIGHT
Tennis
racquets vary in weight from anywhere between 240 grams and 310 grams, although some
of them exceed this weights. Lightweight racquets (240-265 grams)
provide greater control and manoeuvrability but won’t generate as much power.
These are generally aimed at juniors progressing onto full sized racquet
or players looking for one easier to move on court. Mid weight
racquets (270-295 grams) provide a combination between power and control, designed
for club players who want to improve their game. The heavy ones (+
300 grams) help produce more power behind the ball and can help to maintain
control in a faster swing.
HEAD SIZE
The head size refers to the size of the actual hitting area within the
tennis racquet frame. The head sizes are usually defined as follows:
Midsize 85-96 square inches, Midplus 96-106 square inches, Oversize 10-115
square inches, Super oversize 116+ square inches. A larger (oversize or super
oversize) head size lets you generate more power and will have a larger sweet
spot in the area on the strings where you get the maximum response. These more forgiving tennis racquets are generally more suited to
beginners. More experienced players and professional tennis players with
greater power, precision and skill will usually opt for racquets with a smaller
head size in midplus or midsize.
BALANCE
If you are
a less experienced player you should probably go for a power tennis racquet as it is likely that you have a shorter swing and less strength. Your swing alone may not generate enough power so a power one can
help to improve your game. More experienced players will tend to choose control which are head light or have the weight more evenly distributed through
the racquet. As these have more weight in the handle, they can absorb
more shock than a lighter one and therefore appeal to players who already
generate a lot of power by themselves. Head light racquets are also be great for
generating spin, manoeuvrability and net play, again something a more
experienced player will be looking for.
GRIP SIZE
Tennis
racquet grip sizes/measurements available are shown below. The grip sizes
convert from US sizes to UK sizes as follows with size 1 being the smallest and
Grip size 5 being the largest:
4 1/8"
= 1
4 1/4"
= 2
4 3/8"
= 3
4 1/2"
= 4
4 5/8"
= 5
To check
you have the correct grip size: you should be just about able to place the
index finger of your non-racquet hand inbetween your fingers and palm when hold
the racquet normally in your hand.
JUNIOR TENNIS RACQUETS
Here is a
guide to junior tennis racquet sizes. This is an indication of the appropriate
junior tennis size only as it will also depend on factors such as the
ability and strength of the junior.
For Age 10
to 12 Height 142cm - 157.5cm (4 ft 8 in. to 5 ft 2 in.) choose a 26 inch
racquet.
For Age 8
to 10 Height 132cm - 142cm (4 ft 4 in. to 4 ft 8 in.) choose a 25 inch racquet.
For Age 6
to 8 Height 119cm - 132cm (3 ft 11 in. to 4 ft 4 in.) choose a 23 inch racquet.
For Age 6
and under Height under 119cm (under 3 ft 11 in.) choose a 17, 19 or 21 inch
racquet.
