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I have a question for the community, Muffy. I am in my early 20s and have been coaxed by my girlfriend to bang around tennis balls with her. I have been athletic most of my life, but more in the team sports way. What shoes and racquet should I make sure to look at it when I go shopping for them? Is it best to shop at a pro shop or a chain or somewhere else?
Welcome to tennis! It's a great lifelong sport, and with your base of athleticism, you have a chance to improve quickly. My recommendation would be to find a good tennis-specific shop in your area, or at least a sporting-goods store with a good tennis section and knowledgeable staffers. They'd be able to give you the best advice on specific gear for your level.
ReplyDeleteI'm a 3.5-level player (look up the NTRP ratings scale) in my early 50s, and I've long used Babolat racquets, the sort favored by Rafael Nadal. My current primary racquet is a Pure Aero. I string it with Babolat RPM Blast strings, which help to impart the heavy topspin I use on my forehand. I wear Nike shoes, which happen to fit my feet well -- another area where advice and trying on shoes in a store can be helpful. And while few clubs require it anymore, I wear all-white tennis outfits, also from Nike, as a stylish nod to traditionalism. Best of luck, and enjoy!
This comment is months after the initial question, but here goes anyway: For a racquet, try to borrow one initially. Wilson, Yonex, and Vokl offer many models that allow beginners to become comfortable with control. Also, explore strings. You may start with synthetic gut for control and then move on to Head Velocity as you develop topspin and power. Babolot Aero Lite was my choice until my elbow started to protest. The frame is hard and absorbs no shock. I switched to Head Graphite Extreme (demo a racquet from a pro shop to get the grams you prefer). My strings are Head Velocity strings with NXT strings with tension at 52. For shoes, I like Diadora.
DeleteFor my tennis whites I prefer FILA skirts and IBKUL long sleeve zip up with mesh on the backs of the arms. In the Florida sun, the arms and the back of the neck need to be covered as playing many times a week will quickly take a toll on the skin.
If there is a pro shop where you play, they will likely let you try out or rent rackets. Talk to whomever runs the pro shop about it and get a feel for several rackets in the shop before you go on court.
ReplyDeleteIn general, it's often best to find a racket that feels balanced, not heavy or light in the head. Also, pick a comfortable grip size with no overlapping fingers or a feeling like your hand is getting spread out. The grip can also affect the previously mentioned balance. The smaller the grip, the heavier the head feels.
There is a multitude of shoe and apparel choices. Check out Tennis Express or Tennis Warehouse online, both of which stock all the brands at low prices.
I play with a Wilson T2000 like Jimmy Connors, and I wear Asahi shoes that I stockpiled before they quit making them. The velocity derived from the racket, in combination with the confusion wrought by my unusual shoes, is most helpful.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a 3rd and Junior in one person before. How did this happen? Oh...a spoof?!
DeleteNo. I know his father, Wormie, who is Wormwood Moxibustion, III, but has always been terrified of the number 4 so he named his son "III, Jr" rather than "IV." Apparently the fear stems from being hit with a golf ball after someone yelled "fore!" Oh, Wormie. Such a great guy.
DeleteMy podiatrist recommends KSwiss tennis shoes so I buy them from two specialist racquet sport shops on my local High Street. Given Nike's long record of supporting and working with drug cheats like Lance Armstrong, I have boycotted the brand for many years.
ReplyDeleteKSwiss, in my experience, last a few years depending on court surfaces and frequency of use. It's worth having at least two pairs for each surface so that you never wear the same pair for consecutive matches. Tennis shoes, like any quality footwear, need time and good ventilation to recover.
I'm the 9:09 anonymous and wish to add that there is a wide range of rackets geared to skill levels and styles of play. Most brands offer inexpensive, forgiving rackets appropriate for beginners.
ReplyDeleteFurther, there are a lot of online learning resources. Giving them a look will help you harness your athleticism and get off to a good start.
It's like running shoes. There is no such thing as the best running shoe. Every runner or player has different requirements and feet. It's the same with a racket. Some prefer a top-heavy one - others do not. When it comes to clothes, I like oldschool Lacoste. With the racket it is a HEAD Ti S6 and shoes the On "The Roger Pro" sand court shoe.
ReplyDeleteIf it matters to you, Yonex's higher end racquets are still made in Japan, while all other competitors that I'm aware of are made in China. The Vcore 100 or Ezone 100 or 105 would probably be a good choice for a beginner that will carry you for several years.
ReplyDeleteShoes are quite personal and I'd recommend that you try them on. You can't go wrong with predominantly white, especially as you'll be ready if invited to somewhere that still requires it.
John E is right. Tennis is a terrific lifetime sport. There are two gents I know who played well into their nineties. My girlfriend is also an athletic, expert, court sports player. She’s always beats me, except racing downhill on skis!
ReplyDeleteMy old Dunlop Maxply Fort still feels pretty good. So do Tretorns. Since I am 74 and not competitive, whatever I already have is best for me.
ReplyDeleteTres cool to see that you play with an oldie racquet. Miss those days. Have a Maxply in mint condition, a nice Kramer auto, and a Davis Imperial displayed in my office. I bet you wear traditional tennis attire also. JDV
DeleteYes. Whites make sense where I live. I also have a Bancroft Player's Special.
DeleteHa! I had Jack Kramer Autographs and Davis Imperials when I played on my high school tennis team in the eighties and on. Also liked the midsize Dunlop Black Max Graphite. With all of these rachets I would tie a rubber band in the strings near the neck to reduce vibration. Sperry CVOs or K-Swiss shoes and of course tennis whites...though I did wear some color sometimes. Would golf with Titleist blades as well. I found I was able to work the balls better with the old technology.
DeleteWill
I have played a lot of tennis and tried several products. Based on performance, Yonex racquets really helped me move from hitting to crushing my forehand. Keep in mind that I'm just a recreational player with an old two-handed backhand, but even a used Yonex with new string is better than a lot of newer products. As for shoes, that depends on your feet, but I've found Diadora to be most comfortable and less tiring than Wilson or K-Swiss.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that your friend has to 'coax' you into playing tennis. I wouldn't go all out and purchase expensive equipment then. Maybe your friend has an extra racket for you to try out before spending a ton of cash on equipment that you may not end up ever using again---just a frugal Yankee weighing in.
ReplyDeleteSolid advice! June at 4:21
DeleteVery important to wear court shoes, not running sneakers. You need the lateral motion support and the outer edge of a running sneaker is a trip hazard. You can get good, inexpensive court shoes from K Swiss or Asics.
ReplyDeleteSo many superb choices! K Swiss is hard to beat! Talk to a good shop/pro, for racquet choice! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with comments above that the shoe needs to fit your feet. I play in Asics shoes and swing a Head racquet, but find a place with some options and try things out to see what works best for you.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely demo some racquets if there is a good tennis store near you. You absolute need a tennis shoe.
ReplyDeleteI did a lot of research on racquets when I got back into the game last year. I played squash at a fairly high level growing up and in college but had never been much of a tennis player. I'd highly recommend you research the Wilson Clash series. Phenomenal racquet that was essentially redesigned from the ground up by Wilson and turns a few old fashioned concepts of racquet design on their head. My wife bought a good racquet at the same time but ended up switching to the Clash as well once she tried mine. Check it out and have fun!
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