November 19th, 2008 — Product Review, Racket, Tennis
If you are looking for an oversize racket that will make it easier to score better and have more fun while you’re playing, this new model from Wilson is the ideal choice. It’s got a nice big oversized head and if you’re just starting out, this will give you the edge you need. There is always controversy over whether or not oversized rackets should be allowed, but the bottom line is – for beginning players they do make a difference.
For those struggling to improve their accuracy, a racket with an oversized head is usually the best answer, at least until the player gets to the point where they have learned how to control their shots. Beginners often find that rackets have heads that are just too small to work with and if you’re not perfect, chances are you may find it difficult to hit the ball just right. This racket from Wilson, one of the most respected names in the industry, offers a solution that is not only economical, but also actually works.
Despite the oversized head, we found that the racket was well balanced and easy to hold. It’s light enough to keep your arms from getting fatigued, while being substantial enough to get the job done. We were very impressed with the overall appeal of the racket and found that it was one of the best oversized rackets we have ever played with. If you’ve had a bad experience in the past with an oversized racket, give this one a shot and see if you don’t see a major improvement.
Our favorite part of the racket was the fast dry grip, which was comfortable to hold and reduced the occurrence of blisters. We also like the fact that it comes in many different grip sizes, making it a lot easier for people to find the one that is perfect for them. We recommend testing it out in the store to see which grip is right for you to further customize the overall fit of the racket.
Racquet Specifications
* Headsize: 111 sq. in.
* Length: 27.50 in.
* Weight (strung): 9.70 oz.
* Stiffness (Babolat RDC): 66
* Balance: 6pts. Head Heavy
* Cross Section: 26.5mm/24mm Dual Taper Beam
* Swingweight: 330 kg*sq. cm
* String Pattern: 16x1
* Grip: Wilson Micro-Dry Comfort
* Wilson Stiffness Index: 4.0
Overall, we highly recommend this racket to beginning players or to those that are struggling with their accuracy. It’s got just the right weight and the head isn’t too big either. In some cases, manufacturers tend to go a bit overboard when they are making oversized rackets, but Wilson has hit just the right note with this one. We really enjoyed using it and it quickly became one of our new favorites. We’ll be putting it into heavy rotation when we play and once you give it a try, you may want to do the same thing.
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November 13th, 2008 — Tennis, Tips and Tricks
If you’re trying to get your child interested in tennis, there are a few things that you should know about ahead of time to make sure that they get a solid foundation in the sport. Whether you’re teaching them on your own, or they are going to actual lessons, these tips will help keep your child on track and help them develop a true love of the sport.
First, the lessons need to be fun. Kids sometimes need a little help getting engaged in training and if their coach is constantly yelling at them, they are going to end up dreading every minute. It’s best to find a coach that excels at good motivational methods and if you find that your kid suddenly doesn’t want to go to their lessons anymore, you may want to investigate what’s going on. One bad coach can ruin a player for life, and it’s best to stay on top of how your child is being.
If you’re doing the training on your own, remember to keep it fun, and while focusing on the competition element is important, it shouldn’t be the end all and be all of your lessons. By keeping your child engaged in their lessons and looking forward to them, chances are they will get more out them and want to keep learning.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that they have the right equipment. There are junior sized rackets that are ideal for smaller hands and will help improve their overall accuracy. As your child grows, make sure that their equipment still fits them. Growth spurts can mean having to purchase a lot of equipment in a short period of time, but you can always resell anything that they have outgrown. If a racket is too big or too small, your child just won’t be able to play as well as they could if they had equipment that fit them.
Another important point to remember is that there is such a thing as too much training. You may want your child to be the next Serena or Pete Sampras, but they will need to have other activities in their lives to make sure they are well rounded. By beating tennis into them, you may just be beating the joy of it out of them a the same time. Parents tend to get carried away with coaching kids, and sometimes, it can have the opposite effect.
The same is true of regular coaches. They may believe that a child has the necessary talent to be a star, but if the child is pushed too far, they may end up hating the sport, instead of going on to greatness. It’s a fine line to walk, but it’s an important one to watch. Make sure your child has another outlet in their life. For example the Williams sisters design clothing – and this is a great inspiration to help parents come up with alternative activities for their child to learn.
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October 30th, 2008 — Tennis, Tips and Tricks
One of the hottest issues in tennis is the use of oversized rackets. While there are a handful of pros in the circuit that actually use them, by far, they are most often used by inexperienced players that are just getting started in the game. There are some benefits and a few drawbacks to using oversized tennis rackets, so let’s look at this issue logically to see who is right, and who is wrong.
Pros of Oversized Tennis Rackets
1. Accuracy.
This is probably the main reason that oversized rackets are so popular. When you have a larger surface on your racket, it just makes sense that you’re going to be able to hit the ball with a lot more accuracy. No more whiffed shots, that gigantic head will be able to catch anything going by. This can help new players get the confidence they need to keep playing.
2. Less Joint Stress.
This is the most compelling reason for buying an oversized racket. Players have found that it is just easier to use a racket with a larger head and they notice a reduction in the amount of arm and elbow pain after using one. If you already have issues with tennis elbow, this is a very simple solution that can bring a lot of relief.
3. More Power.
The head of an oversized racket allows you to put a little more power behind your shots and this is another main reason that they have become so popular. There is a lot of controversy over this, but the truth is, you can hit a ball harder with an oversized racket.
Cons of Oversized Tennis Rackets
1. Not a true test of skill.
Although these rackets can initially improve accuracy and help give a player some confidence, it may be false confidence. It is best to learn with a standard racket to help develop proper hand eye coordination. Some consider the large head on an oversized racket to be cheating, and if a player has to suddenly make a switch to a standard racket, they may find that they can no longer hit the ball as well as they used to.
2. Banning may be in the future.
Tennis officials are strongly considering banning oversized rackets in the future. While this will really only affect players on the circuit or those that play at a competitive level, it is something to think about. Why should you waste the time learning on something that you’ll never be able to use. However, for occasional players that don’t really care about the rules, an oversized racket can still be used.
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and the way that you look at the game. Even though they are great for those suffering from arm strain, the criticism that likens these rackets to cheating may have some merit. It’s best to learn on a standard racket, in our opinion, to get the foundation you really need to succeed in this game.
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October 29th, 2008 — Product Review, Racket, Tennis
Maria Sharapova got together with Prince o3 to design a racket for women that they could really use. As such, it comes with her signature and in her favorite colors. This is not a novelty player racket though, this is the real deal and one that will get the job done admirably. We were prepared to deal with yet another vanity racket, so it was a nice surprise to find that this one is actually quite good.
The balance is ideal for women players and should reduce the strain that is common from playing with a racket that was intended to be used by a man. It’s very light weight, even when it’s strung and the feel is very light without feeling cheap. The one major problem people have with this racket is its price, which is a bit high considering. Most stores retail this model for close to $200 or more, but at the end of the day, you do get what you pay for.
The racket comes in several different grip sizes and offers a great deal of customization. We found that the grip was very comfortable and it didn’t wear badly like so many grips do. You won’t have to worry about taping this one too much, it’s actually quite durable. We appreciated the attention to detail that went into this racket and the company has done a great job of making one that you can really get a lot of use out of. We were very pleased with the results and found that our accuracy slightly improved, as we also didn’t notice any arm fatigue after using the racket.
Racquet Specifications:
# Headsize: 100 sq. in.
# Length: 27.00 in.
# Weight (strung): 11.25 oz.
# Stiffness (Babolat RDC): 67
# Balance: 13.09 in. Head Light
# Cross Section: 23mm/25mm/22mm Tapered Beam
# Swingweight: 317 kg*sq. cm
# String Pattern: 16x19
# Grip: Prince Duratac
# Prince Power Level: 1000
This is a great middle of the road racket for women and we found that it was easily one of the best we’ve tested in this class. Women sometimes have a hard time getting a racket that is made for their arms, wrists and elbows, let alone ones that come in the right grip size. It’s nice to see more manufacturers moving towards catering to women and so far, this is one of the nicest entries on the market that we have seen.
It’s a racket that is good for both high level beginners, intermediate players and advanced players, and there is plenty of room to grow in your game with this racket. That is probably its biggest selling point, since many rackets fall down when it comes to take players beyond a certain level in their game. This is one racket that will serve you for many years, and it’s more than worth the purchase price when you consider just how much use you’ll get out of it.
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October 1st, 2008 — Product Review, Racket, Tennis
Advanced players can sometimes find it difficult to get just the right racket. There is a dearth of rackets available for intermediate players, but when it comes to appealing to either beginners or advanced players, a lot of manufacturers fall short. The Dunlop Maxplay McEnroe racket is one that is designed specifically for advanced players and we were very surprised at just how good it was.
The racket was designed for John McEnroe and carries his signature both on the case and on the racket itself. That gives you a big clue as to the quality of the racket and the level of player that should be using it. This is not a racket for beginners and even intermediate players may find that it’s just not right for them either. However, there is a big, untapped market out there for advanced rackets and this is easily one of the best we have come across.
The grip for this racket is 4 3/8 and the overall weight is about 11 ounces, without strings. Adding strings really doesn’t change the overall weight much and we found that it was very light in the hand and easy to maneuver. The entire length of the racket is 27 inches long and the head is 98 square inch. For those seeking greater accuracy and the ability to get an unparalleled feel for the ball, this is one of the best rackets we’ve tested.
Wilson is a name that you can trust and when they design a racket for one of the highest profile players in the world, it’s a given that it is going to be good. We were surprised at the overall handling and noticed a difference right away in accuracy and power. If you’re looking for that little edge your game needs to get to the next level, you may just find it with this racket.
If you’re an advanced player, we can’t say enough nice things about this racket. The feel is just perfect and the first time you use and connect with the ball, you’ll agree that it’s one of the most outstanding rackets on the market. It may not be the flashiest one, or the one with the most hype, but it sure does get the job done and that is what really counts. When you need a racket you can count on that will perform at a level that you need to succeed, this is one of the best choices you can make. We highly recommend it and look forward to giving ours quite a workout in the near future.
The pricing for this model is quite reasonable, considering the way that it is made, the materials and the market. Many advanced rackets are priced too high for regular players that don’t happen to have sponsors or who aren’t on tour. This one can easily be afforded by most players and if you can’t get it right away, start saving up now. This is one racket that is more than worth the purchase price.
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